Two projects to improve toilet facilities in the upper reaches of the Coromandel have been chosen to receive just over $116,000 from the latest funding round of the central government's Tourism Infrastructure Fund.

The Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment has awarded $65,247 to upgrade toilets at the busy tourism hotspot of Little Bay and $51,422 to introduce a toilet facility at Otautu Bay, where there are growing numbers of visitors but currently either very basic or no public toilets available.

Council will co-fund these projects with approximate amounts of $59,950 for the Little Bay toilet upgrade and $73,775 at Otautu Bay.

"This funding is great news as both projects are much-needed to cater for rapid tourism growth at these unspoilt, natural environments," says Thames-Coromandel District Council Mayor Sandra Goudie.

'Otautu Bay and Little Bay are becoming more and more popular as both domestic and international visitors discover this beautiful northern area of the Coromandel; and infrastructure such as toilets are central to the visitor experience.

"Again, we are grateful for the support from central government in recognising that as a small council with limited resources, it's a huge ask to manage growing visitor numbers.

'The TIF was set up to support communities facing pressure from tourism growth with high visitor numbers, but relatively small ratepayer bases – like our district.

'With a ratepayer base of just 2621 rating units in the Coromandel-Colville Community Board area, these isolated tourist hotspot projects are unaffordable without the support of the TIF.”

Find out more about each project below.

Little Bay toilet upgrade

Little Bay, the next bay to the south of Waikawau Bay on our north-eastern coast, is an extremely popular beach and receives a significant number of visitors from the large DOC campsite at Waikawau. For example, there were 50,000 visitors in the 2018/2019 season.

The public toilet is currently very dated and the carpark is unsealed with no defined car parks.

The proposed upgrade will see the single pan, vault toilet facility replaced with a new, fully accessible toilet and a resurfaced car park.

New toilet for Otautu Bay Reserve

Otautu Bay, north of Colville is a popular beach for families doing day trips, or a rest stop for those traveling on to Fantail Bay, Port Jackson and Fletcher Bay. It is also a popular launching beach for those fishing the spectacular islands and northern reaches of the Hauraki Gulf.

However, there are currently no public toilet facilities at this location. In the past, a long drop toilet (pictured right) was maintained by locals but was removed after it reached its use-by date.

The nearest public toilet is nine kilometres away at the Colville township. While there is a campground adjacent to Otautu Bay beach, the toilets are not for public use and as visitor numbers have grown over the last seven years, locals have reported beach users asking to use their private toilets in some circumstances.

This project is to create a single-pan, dry vault toilet with changing facilities on the Port Jackson Rd waterfront at the Otautu Bay Reserve. Three picnic tables will be installed adjacent to the toilets.