South Waikato District Council’s Property Team has completed recent work at the Leith Place toilets, converting the decommissioned toilets into staff-only facilities for the local BUSIT services. Two of the five ‘Southern Cross’ towers have been repurposed - one is now a single bathroom and the other a small kitchenette facility.
Cr Sandra Wallace, Chairperson of the Growth and Infrastructure Committee, says it’s a positive for South Waikato’s local bus drivers.
“Providing long-awaited staff facilities for bus drivers and repurposing a public space - thanks to a successful application for NZTA funding - is a huge win for our community,” Cr Wallace said.
Local bus driver, Lisa Martin, has been living in Tokoroa for 21 years and has worked as a bus driver for 18 of those. The primary driver for the 31 Tokoroa District BUSIT service, Lisa is “really happy” to have access to new and clean staff facilities after many years of “making do”.
“Everyone gets a staff room with their job,” Martin said. “I’m really looking forward to being able to make a coffee and warm up my lunch, especially during winter,”
Martin says she knows her community and is grateful for the upgraded facilities at Leith Place. “I transport our people who can’t drive. I take them to school, shopping, appointments or a day out – so I’m grateful for the community support for these basic needs with my job.”
Three local bus services, 30 South Waikato Connector – Tokoroa Circuit, 31 South Waikato Connector – District Connector and 32 Tokoroa Connector (into Hamilton), are operated by Waikato Regional Council in partnership with SWDC, and contracted to Tranzit Coachlines.
Connor Mear, Regional Manager for Tranzit Coachlines, says this is “a great example of collaboration” between council partners. “It’s so cool to see this positive outcome for local drivers, for South Waikato to be able to put driver wellbeing at the front.”
SWDC partnered with Waikato Regional Council to apply for this funding grant from NZTA Waka Kotahi. Team Lead for Public Transport Operations at Waikato Regional Council, Helen Feather says the new local facilities are “a win for driver wellbeing.”
“We’ve recently been focused on enhancing the wellbeing of our drivers, because we know that the positive effects flow on to our passengers, which then flow on to our local communities.” Feather said. “When we take care of our bus drivers then they can take better care of our passengers.”
South Waikato District Council contributed $4,433 to the upgrades, while NZTA contributed $14,301 (via Waikato Regional Council) as part of their fund to help enhance bus driver wellbeing. A local builder was employed as part of this conversion project, and Tranzit Coachlines will be funding the continued upkeep.
The remaining Leith Place structures are planned to remain closed, with the wood panelling to be extended to cover the old toilet doors for a more seamless look. To reduce public confusion, the signs on the driver facilities will be upgraded to provide more clarity to Leith Place visitors.
The local BUSIT network has been running in South Waikato since 2015 and was refreshed in 2022, while the commuter service from Tokoroa to Hamilton launched in February 2023.
