Comet Swimming Club presents petition to the council

Comet Swimming Club’s Greg Meade and Rochelle Somerton in front of Gisborne District Council with supporters yesterday afternoon, holding a petition objecting to a learn-to-swim contract being awarded to an offshore company. Picture by Liam Clayton

A Gisborne swimming club which controversially missed out on a contract at the city’s new swimming pool has officially presented a petition to the council expressing disappointment.

But Comet Swimming Club general manager Rochelle Somerton says she isn’t expecting anything to come of it, and the club will look to build its own pool as a result.

On June 1, Comet was informed by Gisborne District Council it had missed out on a coveted learn-to-swim contract at Gisborne’s soon to be opened $46 million Kiwa Pools.

The tender was instead awarded to Australian-owned Belgravia Leisure, which has over $2 billion in assets under its management.

In response to that decision, members of the public set up online and paper petitions which racked up a total of 4500 signatures.

Somerton said it was “amazing” how well the petition had gone, but she wasn’t holding her breath it would change anything.

“We’re not hopeful at all about that. We decided we would present the petition knowing that it won’t change the outcome,” she said.

“Our plan B is to build our own pool.”

Somerton said the club had wanted to create its own space “for some time”, but Kiwa Pools looked like it would be a good fit for the not-for-profit’s needs.

Since missing out, that dream was once again back on the table.

“Now we’re back to just having to build our own pool and create our own destiny.”

Somerton said the petition provided a “loud and clear” message that the council hadn’t looked after the locals.

In the meantime, Comet would continue to operate its learn-to-swim programme out of Elgin School pool as well as squad training at the new pool, once it opens.

Comet Swimming Club and Belgravia Leisure were the only parties that went for the contract, the outcome of which the council said was a tough decision.

Belgravia has the learn-to-swim contract for three years with two rights of renewal, meaning it could be 2032 before it comes up for tender again.

Council’s liveable communities director Michele Frey said her organisation understood the disappointment expressed by the community, and acknowledged the support shown to Comet.

The council was confident it undertook a fair and open procurement process, and believed Belgravia would add value to those who had previously been unable to access learn-to-swim, Frey said.

“We are excited to begin work with Belgravia and look forward to sharing more about their professional and local services when we can.”