Essential access to toilets

Bus drivers and waste management teams need access to public toilets during the national COVID-19 lockdown and councils around New Zealand have kept some public restrooms open for their use.

Citycare Property teams in South Auckland and Christchurch are among the essential cleaning staff servicing the public facilities at this time.

In Christchurch, 16 public toilet amenities are open and being cleaned twice daily across the council region from Akaroa to the central city, Supervisor Chris Webb said.

A cleaning team of four staff are working on a roster basis and utilising hospital grade disinfectant at this time while wearing full PPE gear, he said.

Chris, who has worked for Citycare for 26 years, said his team gets compliments from members of the public around Christchurch who show their appreciation of the tough job his crew has to keep the public facilities clean.

Seven public toilets are open in South Auckland and these require cleaning and servicing several times a day, Citycare Property Auckland Soft Services Manager Jody Deer said.

Sub-contractors deliver some of the services for Auckland Council on behalf of Citycare Property and they are awesome to work alongside, said Jody, who is based at the Citycare Property depot in Drury.

For example, sub-contractor Civic Contractors looks after bin emptying, litter collection, and the cleaning of public toilets and sports changing rooms.

“These workers are unsung heroes in my books,” Jody said.

“Civic Contractors are always looking at providing new initiatives in the way they deliver their service and have always jumped in and helped out on numerous community projects,” she said.

As well as cleaning the toilets, Civic Contractors are emptying public rubbish bins during the lockdown.

In Christchurch and Banks Peninsula, Citycare Property’s litter collection team is also operating. 

Chris holds all his crews in high regard for the essential work they are completing through the lockdown period and thanks them all very much for their efforts.

Citycare Property Christchurch cleaner Stuart Milne is working in full PPE at toilets in Sumner, Christchurch.

Lindsey Christian from Civic Contractors empties a rubbish bin in Manurewa.