Free pool party to celebrate re-opening

POOL PARTY: The Eketahuna pool committee is hosting a free pool party, complete with an inflatable slide and free food, to mark the anniversary of last year's earthquake and the reopening of the community pool.PHOTO/FILE

The Eketahuna community is marking the anniversary of last year's earthquake, which forced the pool to close, with a free pool party for the district on January 20.

Last January's magnitude 6.2 earthquake cracked the small pool and damaged the pipes for the main pool.

The Tararua District Council completed repairs to the pool in November, sealing cracks and repairing the concrete in the small pool, as well as repairing the filter shed, leaf strainer and balance tank of the main pool.

The pool reopened to the public on Boxing Day.

President of the pool committee Ryan Seator said the pool party was a way of commemorating the earthquake as well as being a fun day out the kids.

"It was a bit devastating last year so this year we'll make it a bit happier."

The party would be a treat for the children who were disappointed by last year's early closure, Mr Seator said. "A lot of the kids missed out last year - they had to travel or go to the river, which was pretty hard because it was quite hot."

There will be free barbecue food on offer and children can try out the large inflatable slide which is on loan from the Martinborough Community Board.

The pool committee will be providing lifeguards and there will be no admission charges.

As many as 35 people swam in the pool every day and there were 35 children aged between 5-15 enrolled in the learn to swim programme, which runs on Monday and Tuesday evenings, Mr Seator said.

Eketahuna residents were thrilled to have the pool back, he said.

Tararua District Council assets and property manager Colin Veale said the $500,000 set aside by council towards the cost of eventually replacing the swimming pool still remains available. A total of $20,000 was spent repairing the pool, of which $10,000 was paid for by insurance.

The pool party kicks off at 1pm on January 20 and runs until 4pm.