Sink or swim - CITY, CENTRAL, TAMAKI

Auckland's swimming community is hampered by overcrowded facilities and gaps in pool provision. Figures by Auckland City Council reveal just a quarter of Aucklanders have visited one of the region's 101 pools in the last 12 months.
However, attendance over the past five years has steadily increased with growing numbers joining swim clubs or taking up sports such as water polo.
``There are definitely pockets of Auckland that desperately need pools,'says Glenn Hamblyn (correct), head coach of Mt Eden's 65 member swim club.
``Sure, there are ample pools around centrally and schools looking at pools, but around Mt Roskill, heading further out that way, there's nothing until you get out to West Auckland. That's a real issue.
``Even those central Auckland pools could be better utilised. Go there during the day and you'll find most are just sitting empty. It's important we look at this, especially when we're trying to get more people involved in sport.'
Across the city, council runs six all-year-round pools, three outdoor or summer baths and funds partnership pools in Mt Albert, Mt Eden and with Sacred Heart College.
Pin-maps have been developed as a means of charting the residential location of pool users, allowing for catchment areas to be mapped.
Such a strategy identifies gaps in the network of swimming pools - most notably Avondale and Otahuhu - and highlights pools where investment and improvements are needed.
City sites, such as Newmarket's Olympic Pools and downtown's Tepid Baths, have a pulling power of up to 5 kilometres and serve wider communities than other parts of Auckland.
Pool shortages have become an issue in the Eastern Bays area where families do battle with commuter traffic to get their young to Glen Innes Aquatic Centre. One of six council-owned pools open all year round, Glen Innes attracts visitors from a wide area with its swim club, water safety and seniors programmes, aqua-aerobics classes and disabled facilities.
``Overall numbers are definitely rising, especially over the summer,' says Andrea Wilkie, manager of Y-Swim School. ``Children in the classes come from all over - Mission Bay, Glendowie, St Helliers...their parents would have to do battle with the after-school traffic to get the here on time.'
PT England and St Helliers primaries are two schools that can offer kids term time swimming lessons - a perk that comes with close proximity to Glen Innes pool.
At 11, Lorenz Wijnschenk is one such lucky youngster benefiting from regular pool exercise. ``I love the idea they have a period of swimming every day,' says Lorenz's mother Marisa.
``It's a real shame other schools don't have those facilities, when it's a case of getting the kids on a bus and travelling to the pool I don't think they would get to go as frequently.'
More recently, council added a teaching pool at Onehunga's Aquasport centre and funding has been set aside for a similar facility at Mt Albert's Philips Aquatic centre.
Yet, despite identifying a need for a new pool to serve growing demand in the St Johns and Remuera area, no progress has been made.