$1.35 million for private toilets for bus drivers

The Taxpayers’ Union released:

The New Zealand Taxpayers’ Union can report through an Official Information Act that Metlink has paid $1,300,245 dollars (inc. GST) for a project to install seven toilets in Wellington, exclusively for the use of bus drivers. The locations of the toilets include Houghton Bay, Darlington Road, Wilton, Mairangi, Lyall Bay, Highbury and Karori.

Taxpayers’ Union Communications Officer, Alex Emes, said:

“This latest waste story is another example of government failing to deliver on the basics. Spending a penny is one thing, but spending 130 million pennies for just seven toilets takes the biscuit. 

“At an average cost of over $185,000 per toilet, it makes you wonder – are the seats made of gold? While looking after bus drivers is important, that money could have surely gone further if spent better.

That is a lot of money. Waimate DC managed to build six toilets for under $500,000. Other toilets look to be around $20,000 each. Dunedin is doing them for $100,000 each. And these are all for public toilets used by maybe hundreds of people a day – not a private toilet used by maybe 1 or 2 people a day.