Stunning photographs on new toilet block
Published on 18 December 2018
At the end of last week a new toilet block opened on Anzac Parade, ticking off the first of several infrastructure improvements for public toilet and campervan facilities in Whanganui.
Next on the list is a campervan dumping station connected to Whanganui District Council’s wastewater system, near the new toilets on Anzac Parade – work on this is currently underway, and it will be up and running before Christmas.
Early in the New Year public toilets will also be installed at Jerusalem, to meet its rising popularity as a tourist destination.
Whanganui District Council’s Facilities Management Officer Peter Tantrum says, “Last year 68% of residents said the district needed more public toilets, so it’s good to be able to respond to this and also improve our infrastructure for tourists”.
Funding for the improvements has come from both Whanganui District Council and the Government’s Tourism Infrastructure Fund.
The toilet block is situated near the boat ramp “which is a handy location for sporting events on the river”, says Mr Tantrum.
Passers-by will notice the toilet block blends in well with its surroundings, due to the scenic images that have been applied to the outside of the structure.
The photographs are the work of local man Charles Ranginui. Mr Tantrum says, “I googled images of Whanganui and found Charles’ stunning photos, and when I contacted him he was happy for us to use them”.
Mr Ranginui says he drives a truck by day and is a river guide during his leave in summer. “I’ve been taking photos for years, and have lost heaps of cameras in the river during that time. My photography’s gotten better with practice, after spending a lot of time chasing the morning and evening light”.
Mr Tantrum says having photographs on the Anzac Parade toilet block promotes our district to visitors and encourages people to go up the river and explore. “They are a way of sharing some of the hidden treasures we have here in the Whanganui area.”
Image: Charles Ranginui standing in front of one of the photographs on the Anzac Parade toilet block