A new picnic shelter at Hakatere Huts and new public toilets at the coastal settlement are expected to get quite a workout when the weather warms up.

The shelter was created using the concrete base and roof of the old changing rooms, and the new toilets are a welcome replacement for loos that were well past their use-by date.

The area around the new public toilets has now been planted with native grasses, and the shelter will also be landscaped to have a mowable surface. The work should be finished later this month.

Group Manager of Infrastructure and Open Spaces Neil McCann said the two new facilities would be used by day trippers and campers at Hakatere.

“The settlement population really picks up in summer, but even in winter there are people who come to stay in campervans or caravans.

“We had input from the local community about repurposing the old changing rooms, and now the roof is up we will install picnic tables.”

The old changing rooms were classified as earthquake prone because of unreinforced masonry, but the roof and concrete floor were sound and formed the basis for the new shelter.

The shelter will remain cordoned off until contractors finish their work, and the area has been landscaped and sown in lawn.

Mr McCann said the shelter had great sea views.

“It will be the ideal spot for visitors and campers, as well as cyclists using the Hakatere to Ashburton River Trail.”

He said the cost of the work had been covered by money from the public toilets budget.

The new public toilets were installed last month.