Great news, but about time - that's the response from the Bay of Islands Amateur Swimming Club after news that $60,000 would be spent replacing a broken heat pump at the Kawakawa pubic pool that has driven club members away.
Club committee member and events committee member on Swimming Northland Denis Garner said pool users were delighted that the pump would finally be replaced at Kawakawa's Te Papawai Bay of Islands Community Pool after it failed in April.
Mr Garner said the club had lost about 30 per cent of its members since then as the water became too cold for many to practise, particularly younger members.
"We're very happy about it being replaced, and it should solve our issues, but we're disappointed it's taken so long," Mr Garner said.
"We have children that are competing at a national level and going to the AIMS Games and others going to the national secondary school champs so it's very important we keep to our training regime.