Hamilton is set to get a state-of-the-art pool complex to cater for the entire population.
The five-pool complex is part of a $10 million development being driven by Club Cardio gym co-owner Shane Vincent.
The development will see a "double build" this year. The first stage will see a new gym constructed, along with a cafe. Once the gym is open, the building where the gym is now will be demolished and replaced with the pool complex.
The complex will cater for everyone from children and adults learning to swim to professional athletes.
The development is one of several proposed or under way in the city and was among six high profile developments discussed at a breakfast meeting at SkyCity on Tuesday (see front page).
The meeting drew huge interest from local, national and international business personalities and local media.
Mr Vincent first tabled his ambitious plans for the complex with the landowner last year after he saw a gap in the market for such a complex.
The pool complex will house a 25mx12.5m squad training pool, a 25mx11.8m learn to swim pool, two 8mx10m learn to swim pools (one for babies, another for toddlers) and a flow pool featuring an adjustable current that can be used for training, technique work, rehabilitation and aqua therapy.
He said plans for the development would be lodged with council by April 1 for resource consent and he hoped construction would begin by July 1.
The gym and cafe are expected to be completed in the first quarter of next year and the pool complex will follow.
The plans feature modern, clean lines with the addition of 'living walls'. The whole development will cover just under 3000 sq m and include a three-storey parking building at the rear of the Rostrevor-Victoria St corner site.
Mr Vincent is pleased to see a positive buzz in the central city created by a boom in commercial construction. He hoped the development would attract other businesses to the north end of the CBD.
He said the popularity of The Base would remain but that businesses other than retail may be a way of boosting the CBD.
"Land owners and developers obviously still see potential in our CBD."
Mr Vincent, who is a triathlete and avid swimmer, has had interest from school swimming squads, netball teams and the Chiefs.
He said he wanted to make the facility accessible for the whole family at an affordable price.