Dannevirke: Pool needs more funding

Attendance at Dannevirke's Wai Splash pool has risen to 48,000, but increasing costs have forced the trustees to seek a 26 per cent increase in funding. Photo / Christine McKay

Dannevirke's Tararua Aquatic Trust members are hoping the Tararua District Council will throw them a life-saving 26 per cent increase in funding to keep their heads above water.

Costs have increased by $100,000 for Dannevirke's Wai Splash pool and the trust has applied for a 26 per cent increase in funding.

"We need $50,000, that's a 26 per cent increase in our grant because we've had huge increases in our costs as the pool eats money," trust chairman John Robinson told councillors on Tuesday. "We have no plan B, this request is simply a must."

The aquatic trust made a submission to the council last year, but a decision was deferred.

"Over the past year, we've increased our operational payments to our contractor by using reserves," Mr Robinson said.

"Our treasurer, Ian McKenzie, and the contractor's accountant have thoroughly investigated his financial position and we are satisfied he is doing all the trustees require to contain expenses."

However, Mr Robinson said a review of pool operations, particularly in regard to health and safety issues, which resulted in changing rosters and a minimum number of lifeguards being introduced, with hourly rates increased resulting in higher wage costs for the contractor.

"This resulted in the contractor being financially under water," Mr Robinson said. "While we were able to offset these from our reserves, we are not able to offset the huge increase in our operating costs over the last five years."

Increased safety measures introduced last year are credited with saving the life of a drowning man, but while costs have increased by $100,000, pool income has only risen by $40,000, with the current grant from council $9000.

But Dannevirke businessman Chris Southgate appealed to councillors to reconsider rates for businesses and commercial premises in Dannevirke, with the option of removing the component they pay for the pool operations.

"I commend this council for the declining rate projection curve and so it should be and it behoves you to keep them [rates] low because we've all got to live within our means," he said. "But some of us in business are too busy to use swimming pools and we're already paying for those facilities through our property rates."

However, Mr Robinson said the pool was important in encouraging people to move to Dannevirke. "We want people to come and open businesses here, so the pool is part of that," he said.

The Tararua Aquatic Trust was formed in 1992 and Mr McKenzie joined in 1996, but he is now retiring and can no longer justify the time spent on the trust.

"We urgently need your support," Mr Robinson said. "Just last year we put those safety measures in place and then someone nearly drowned and we believe those measures saved a life."

Councillor Jim Crispin asked the trust representatives if they had discussed funding options with ACC. "Perhaps they may see a relationship between the two organisations and make some sort of contribution."

Mr McKenzie said this was an angle the trust had not tried. Tararua District Mayor Roly Ellis said it was "worth a try".

And Mr Robinson is adamant the council shouldn't be funding a new pool complex in Eketahuna. "We don't want a pool there," he said. "And quite frankly, we [the district] can't afford one in Pahiatua either. If we could find a way to subsidise buses to bring people to swim in Dannevirke ..."

However, Mr Robinson did say he could see no reason why Pahiatua couldn't continue to have an outdoor pool. "I don't think the Dannevirke High School should be spending money on upgrading their outdoor pool with students swimming in the middle of summer freezing to death either," he said.