Shock seismic risk forces shutdown of Bayfair pool complex

The Baywave aquatic centre has shut suddenly after cracks were found in the building. Photo/Supplied

Tauranga's Baywave TECT Aquatic and Leisure Centre has shut for urgent strengthening following the discovery of cracks in the structure of the 12-year-old building.

"It is a relatively new building. It is not the sort of thing we would have expected of a building of this age," Bay Venues chief executive Gary Dawson said.

A draft report by Beca Consultants identified that the $19 million building had "significant deficiencies" and recommended seismic upgrades as a high priority. There was a possibility that liquefaction had occurred.

It was assessed as a Grade D earthquake prone building, meaning the risk from a major shake was 10 to 25 times greater than if it met the latest earthquake strengthening code.

"Our priority was public safety," Mr Dawson said.

But with repairs due to finish only one day before competition began for the National Underwater Hockey Secondary School Championships on September 8, the event organisers were feeling nervous.

"It is a tight schedule but for safety's sake it was the best course of action," Tauranga Underwater Hockey president Kelvin Maine said.

With 500 participants in 40 teams, he said it was not an ideal situation and they would prepare a plan B in case the strengthening took longer than expected.

The other big deadline pressure was the 350 swimmers and 30 water polo teams taking part in the Aims Games that started on September 10.

Aims Games director Vicki Semple said she was exploring other options, just in case.
"They've told me it will be ready in time and I have complete faith they have the ability to make it happen. They know how important this is for the city. I'm sure they will be pulling out all the stops," she said.

Mr Dawson said the strengthening would start today to infill a window on a large block wall so that it became a whole solid wall. This work was expected to take until the end of this week.

The other work involved additional bracing on the steel girders that ran along the spine of the building. Installing six plates would take the centre up to a Grade C seismic risk - a seismic risk five to 10 times greater than a new conforming building.

Bringing the building up to an acceptable standard to open would take nine days, he said.

Mr Dawson said the Tauranga company installing the plates understood the urgency and was confident it could meet the deadline.

"We don't anticipate the work will be hugely expensive."

The structural and cosmetic cracks were found during seismic assessments currently under way on the buildings operated by Bay Venues, a council-controlled leisure organisation.

Baywave was the only building identified so far as needing urgent strengthening. Other more routine remedial work would be undertaken during the nine-day closure.

Mr Dawson said Bay Venues decided to act immediately on the draft report rather than wait for the final version.

An urgent meeting of Bay Venues board was held as soon as the Beca report was received on Monday. The recommendation for immediate closure was taken after a subsequent meeting with two senior Beca consultants, Mayor Greg Brownless and council chief executive Garry Poole.

Bay Venues was working closely with its other venues to minimise disruption for Baywave users including the fitness centre, learn to swim classes, swimming squads and the childcare centre.

Engineers' recommendations for the Baywave included
- Strengthening the bracing system
- Further checks on the cladding, window support systems and precast concrete stairs
- Investigating the possibility that liquefaction had occurred