Council shuts cracking Olympic pool

ROGER MORONEY
The Napier City Council is closing the outdoor Olympic pool at the Napier Aquatic Centre in Onekawa while it investigates the pool's deteriorating condition and high maintenance costs.
The 50m pool, built in 1963, opens for just four months each summer. It cost the council $20,000 to ensure the pool was at a safe standard this season.
Community development manager Dennis Morgan said the popularity of the outdoor pool dropped when the centre's indoor Ivan Wilson facility, which has a 25m lane pool, toddlers' pool, spa pools and waterslides, opened in 1998.
The outside Olympic pool and diving pool will remain closed while future options, which include renovation, rebuilding and replacement or demolition are investigated.
Mr Morgan said an initial estimate of more than $2 million had been made for partial renovations.
Engineering inspections showed substantial deterioration and that the pool had reached the end of its economic life. Problems included cracking and uneven surfaces, broken tiles, leaking and inadequate water valves, piping and pumping systems.
There was subsidence around the pool, making the surrounding area dangerous. Removing algae, which formed in cracks in the pool, took staff more time to clean and the extra chemical treatment required was costly.
"The level of deterioration is a major concern and the costs of bringing the pool up to health and safety standards each summer can no longer be justified," Mr Morgan said.
Visits to the Olympic and diving pools made up just 7.5 percent of the total numbers using the aquatic facilities. Schools and private group bookings made up the bulk of the regular outdoor pool users.
Mr Morgan was concerned the closure would require some Napier schools to make new arrangements for annual swimming sports but he had contacted regular users.
The council will make a decision on the pool's future after investigations into a range of options is completed.