Cracks plugged in 50m pool

BACK IN THE SWIM: Olympic Pool staff were on their hands and knees over the weekend patching cracks in the 50m pool. File picture

THE Gisborne Olympic Pool complex opened its doors again this morning for the first time since the Alert Level 4 lockdown, and thanks to the work of pool staff that now includes the 50 metre pool.

The news that the 50 metre pool can open as well has come as a great relief to lap swimmers and particularly members of the Comet Swimming Club, who were to train there this afternoon.

On Saturday The Herald ran a story that indicated the leaking indoor Olympic-size 50m pool would remain closed this winter and would only reopen if a funding application to the Government's “shovel-ready” scheme was successful.

On Friday the council issued a statement that said it would reopen the 33-metre outdoor pool at the Olympic Pool complex today, but not the indoor 50m pool. That release was the basis for Saturday's Herald story.

This morning the council issued a further statement saying there had been some developments since Friday.

“As of Friday the temporary patch used to stop the leak in the 50m pool had not worked. It was losing a lot of water and the decision was made to divert warm water to the 33m outdoor pool,” a council spokeswoman said.

“The pool team leader and staff undertook one last run over the 50m pool, and that seems to have resulted in a short-term, successful patch.”

She said it was a great effort by the pool team and a good outcome for the community.

“The 50m pool is heating up, and is currently at 25 degrees, with a target of 27 degrees.

“We are closely monitoring water loss to make sure the patch continues to work, and if required we can reroute water heating to the 33m pool very quickly.”

The Comet Swimming Club were to resume training in the 50m pool this afternoon.

“The pool staff have worked tirelessly on their hands and knees to fill the cracks and make the pool watertight,” said Comet's manager Rochelle Somerton.

“We are very thankful for the work they have done.

“We also appreciate the council had a Plan B, with the 33 metre pool to be heated and used if the leaks in the 50m pool could not be repaired.

“We are stoked, absolutely rapt, to have the 50m pool available.

“Our swimmers have been missing the water and could not wait to get back to training this afternoon.”

About 70 young swimmers returned to the water today, and twice that many will suit up again this week.

“We have a brand new coach starting today as well. Anneleen Van Damme, from Belgium, joins us.” Council's liveable communities director Andrew White said last week the 50m pool was an old one that required a proper reline.

“But we are making the best of the situation in the interim.

“Our current plan is to reline the 50m pool in October when the temperature is warmer but this is also dependent on whether we are successful with our short-listed Crown Infrastructure Partners' (CIP)application for the Olympic Pool Complex redevelopment.”

The CIP fund is part of the Covid-19 Response and Recovery Fund and has set aside an initial $3 billion to fund infrastructure projects across the country.