Learner pool to close for maintenance

Maintenance on Rotorua Aquatic Centre's indoor learner pool will begin next month, meaning the pool will be closed for about eight weeks.

The work includes replacing the tiles on the bottom of the pool with a softer surface.

The work will start on Saturday October 15.

Rotorua Aquatic Centre manager David Pearce said the new pool surface was a specially made non-slip, padded material made for pools.

The temporary pool closure will coincide with Term 4 swimming lessons so alternative arrangements have been made for the learn-to-swim lessons. Babies' classes will move to the pool at Cantabria Rest Home and Hospital on Old Taupo Rd and pre-school classes will be held at The Blue Baths.

"School age children will move to the deep pool for their lessons and coaches will make the most of the opportunity by incorporating more water safety skills into the classes," Mr Pearce said.

During the closure period the indoor spas will also be closed to the public, for safety reasons, but the indoor 25m pool and outdoor pools will remain open. Swim clubs and recreational swimmers will still be able to use both lane pools but there will be reduced lane space at times.

Maintenance work on the pool will include checking of the underground pipes, refurbishing of the pumps and servicing of the pool filtration systems.

Rotorua Aquatic Centre users can keep tabs on how the pool upgrade is progressing by following the centre's website, Facebook page or downloading the Rotorua Aquatics app from the app store.