Pool's fan base dives

The Aucklander

2 Feb, 2011 05:00 PM3 mins to read

A change of management at the Onehunga War Memorial Pool has given swim school students - and their parents - that sinking feeling. Joanna Davies reports.
Every week Charlie and Jack pull on their togs for swim lessons.
But in two months, the brothers won't be swimming at Onehunga War Memorial Pools anymore.
The current management has lost the contract to run the centre and the swim school is moving on.
"We've been very loyal to the swim school and we will follow them to their new pool, but it means we won't come and swim here anymore," says Charlie and Jack's mother, Megan Bonisch.
"A lot of people are disappointed that the management is changing. I can understand that the management would change if there were problems here, but it's been a fantastic place for my sons to swim. We've made a lot of friends here."
In April, Community Leisure Management will take over Onehunga Aquasports and the Hilton Brown Swim School.
Regular swimmer Kay Shelton Agar says no one was consulted about the changes.
"A couple of years ago, CLM won the contract to manage the Cameron Pool in Mt Roskill," she says. "Since then the opening hours have decreased and a lot of their swimmers are coming here.
"Everyone is devastated that the same things might happen here."
Ms Shelton Agar, who swims at the centre at least twice a week, believes families will stop attending the pool once the swim school leaves.
"This is a place where everyone has been welcome, but that might change, and every time I contact Auckland Council for more information, I get cut off.
"The community should be consulted about these changes because the management has been here for a very long time and they do a wonderful job."
Onehunga Aquasport general manager Ashley Hunt is also disappointed that the organisation has to move on after more than 20 years running the centre.
"And the patrons feel the same way. But we have built a new gym and learn-to-swim pool in another location.
"We offered to add another storey to this centre and put in a new pool and gym here, and we would have paid for it so the ratepayers wouldn't have to, but the council wasn't interested."
Community Leisure Management's human resources manager, Kirsty Knowles, referred all questions to the Auckland Council.
"We are all really excited about starting in Onehunga in April," she says.
Auckland Council's manager of parks, sports and recreation, Ian Maxwell, insists the contract change will benefit the community.
"The operation of the Onehunga War Memorial Pool will continue to focus on providing a good customer experience that meets the needs of the Onehunga community.
"Since CLM began running the Cameron Pool in Mt Roskill the facility has benefited from increased programmes, new equipment and, as a result, is seeing significantly increased user numbers and positive customer satisfaction."
Mr Maxwell says the pool will be open for longer under the new contract.
"The Onehunga Swimming Club has exclusive access to the main pool on Mondays between 6.30pm and 8.30pm and on Fridays between 7pm and 9pm.
"However, the remainder of the facility is available to the public during these times."
Community Leisure Management will begin operating Onehunga War Memorial Pool on April 1.
Pooling resources
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