Karekare Public Toilets

 Karekare is one of Auckland’s premiere wild west coasts beaches, with a small strong vocal community; one with often differing viewpoints. Andrew.Stewart was engaged at short notice to represent Waitakere City Council at the public hearing for the wastewater discharge permit associated with the toilets.

The community was split between supporting and opposing the application, with the Waitakere City Mayor also opposing it, but following a successful hearing decision, the scope of work was extended to:

• Environment Court mediation 
• Further wastewater options assessment, including NPV analysis 
• Environment Court representation (which ruled in the Council’s favour) 
• Development of a design team, including an architectural and structural engineer
• The engagement of sub consultants, including in landscape design and arborist 
• Community consultation with respect to toilet block location and design in the form of open days and public meetings
• Attendance and Council Officer support at Community Board meetings and Auckland Regional Council Heritage Committee meetings
• Acquisition of necessary landuse consents, Auckland Regional Council licence to occupy parkland, and building consents
• Resource consent compliance during construction

Following the difficult consent acquisition process, with one submitter posing obstacles using every avenue possible (both statutory and non statutory), the local community has commented to Council that they feel the toilet block is a real community asset, something they can be proud of.

Karekare toilet was one of five public toilets that ASL delivered on behalf of Waitakere City Council. The success of this project demonstrates our ability to:

• Provide planning and environmental advice during various stages of the project, including coordination of architectural and landscape drawings and reports (including 3D modelling) as part of the consultation and consenting process
• Provide planning advice and work collaboratively with Council’s project manager and legal team (Matt Casey QC), which included development of cross examination questions
• Review initial work undertaken by another consultancy (the wastewater design and resource consent application), recommend amendments to address submitter’s concerns, represent Council at the hearing, and undertake further options analysis as agreed via Environment Court mediation
• Facilitate cross boundary agreements and undertake statutory work planning work outside of the District and Regional Plan (i.e. under the Reserves Management Act, Local Government Act, and Building Act)
• Engage with communities with differing viewpoints, accurately report the facts to Council (and Community Board), and develop a winning solution
• Successfully represent Council through the Public Hearing and Environment Court process, including facilitating inter-agency relationships

More information on the Waitakere City Council Public Facilities Monitoring