Demolishing the pool would increase the number of people swimming at the Levin Aquatic Centre located 18km south of Foxton and came with an expected annual rates reduction of $12.49.
Initial community feedback showed that the Foxton Pool was thought of as an important facility for the growing communities of Foxton and Foxton Beach. There were 504 people that responded to an HDC survey.
HDC had asked for community feedback on options ranging from upgrade to closure, and armed with those answers had now gone back to the community with a more refined set of options ahead of locking in a Long Term Plan for the year.
The pool itself was only 13 years old. The building was originally constructed in 2012 to cover what was originally an unheated pool. Once it became heated soon after a high level of moisture in the building structure began to compromise its structural integrity.
The current building had inadequate ventilation which had contributed to a damp, humid environment and high levels of condensation. It had led to excessive rusting of the plant and equipment, increasing maintenance and replacement costs.
An assessment of the building found it was still structurally safe, but the high condensation and moisture levels had caused the supporting timber structure to absorb moisture.
It was also an unpleasant internal environment for customers and staff, extremely hot in summer with water dripping down from the roof structure.
HDC had identified the Foxton Pool as an important facility for the growing communities of Foxton and Foxton Beach.
Any further public submissions had to be in by April 19, with the plan to be adopted in June.
Below is the list of options being sent out for public consultation.
OPTION ONE: Cost: $9.4 million - Demolish and rebuild
- Extend Building at front for multi-purpose room
- Extend building at rear to include new leisure pool
- No change to existing pools
- Add indoor leisure pool
- Add splashpad and landscaping at rear
- Upgrade change rooms
Operational changes
- Open 12 months- Increase in operating hours: 6am-7pm weekdays and 8am-6pm weekends.
- Expected to increase use of the pool by residents and visitors to Foxton
OPTION TWO: Cost: $2.6 million
- Demolish and rebuild building
- No change to pools
- Upgrade change rooms
- Restore abandoned outdoor area to grass
Operational changes
- Open 12 months- Increase in operating hours: 6am-7pm weekdays and 8am-6pm weekends.
- Not expected to change level of use
OPTION THREE: Cost: $4.4 million
- Demolish existing building
- Rebuild change rooms and admin building
- Upgrade change rooms
- Existing pools become outdoor heated pools.
- Add outdoor leisure pool.
- Add outdoor splashpad
- Cover toddler pool
- Landscape outdoor area
Operational changes
- Oopen five months- 10am-7pm opening hours
- One term learn to swim
- One holiday learn to swim
- Reduce aquacise
OPTION FOUR: Cost $1.9million
- Demolish existing building
- Rebuild change room and admin building
- Upgrade change rooms
- Existing pools become outdoor heated pools
- Cover toddler pool
- Regrass abandoned outdoor area
Operational changes
- Open 5 months
- 10am to 7pm opening hours
- Forecast to decrease the number of visitors
- One term learn to swim
- One holiday learn to swim
- Reduced aquacise
OPTION FIVE: Cost: $350,000
- Remove indoor pool building and pools
- Remove outdoor pools
- Restore grass
Operational changes
- Cease current operations
- Likely increase use of Levin Aquatic Centre
