Greendale Pool at Taradale closed but plans to re-open well under way

The Greendale Pool at Taradale hosted its last group of children yesterday with the doors closed until the end of July.

"All going to plan that's the time we are looking at to re-open," Taradale Primary School principal Marty Hantz said.

The pool, which is on the school grounds and operated by the Greendale Swim Club under a long-term lease from the Ministry of Education, had been assessed by engineering experts who determined the building to be structurally at risk.

While recent remedial work had been carried out to improve safety, and keep it open temporarily, it was also determined that beyond December the building would be deemed unsafe.

Its closure will affect about 3000 children and adults who take part in learn-to-swim programmes every year, and Mr Hantz said attempts to find space at other schools for the 2017 classes were unsuccessful.

Mr Hantz said it was crucial the pool be brought up to accepted engineering standards and to achieve that had drawn resolve and determination within the community to see it happen.

At a public meeting earlier in the year initial estimates for costs to repair the building came in at more than $2 million, but that simply strengthened the resolve of the group of community members who worked in with the school and the club to come up with more achievable alternatives.

"A new charitable trust will be formed to manage the Taradale pool for the foreseeable future," Mr Hantz said, adding the trust would be responsible for funding, overseeing the proposed building work and putting together a long-term sustainable management programme.

The group had been able to effectively cut three-quarters of the original estimate after consulting with experts and community business representatives.

The best option was a new steel framing system as well as general roof repairs, which meant the funding target was $450,000.

"The chosen solution is both cost- and time-effective."

The frame construction would be erected within the current structure which Mr Hantz said would allow the building to be compliant for a further 20 years "and beyond".

Funding was being sought and the trust was looking at several sources, including the Napier City Council as well as community loans.

Taradale resident Fraser Holland is heading the funding programme and said if the pool was not re-opened quickly children would miss out, and it would also potentially lose a lot of regular users "and therefore it's ability to be self-sustaining".

He hoped the council would assist with partial funding, and pointed out that in its Aquatics Strategy it reported that the Greendale Club and pool played a large role in being an alternative to council-provided pool space and that it was the only indoor school pool of its kind.

Napier Mayor Bill Dalton confirmed council had been approached for funding and said after the proposed business plan put together had been looked at and assessed, and advice had been gathered from council officers, it would go before council.

"We wish them all the best in their efforts," he said.

"We will look at it."

Mr Hantz said the signs at this stage to have it completed by the end of July were good.

"Everyone has been so supportive," he said.

He added that many of the children were not completely aware of what was happening.
"The kids here are so used to swimming frequently," he said. "It's part of their culture."

The kids would miss it, but the pool trust was confident and determined they and the wider community would get it back.