Carterton's 95-year-old swimming baths is all pumped up and ready to head into its next century. The three new 4hp pumps replace an aging 27hp filter pump, which at around 50 years old finally gave up the ghost last year. It's been all good news environmentally says the Carterton District Council's parksassets manager, Brian McWilliams. With three pumps, staff have the choice of running the complex on one, two or three pumps depending on usage saving electricity. In winter, the pools will not need to be emptied, except if maintenance is needed, as the water can be treated to a minimum level by just one pump. "Having the large pump chugging away all year was just not viable," says Mr McWilliams. He has noted the new pumps, which were a tenth the size of the old one, were so much more efficient that they would probably hardly use the third new one, using it as a back up only. The upgrade came with a few hiccups waiting for parts from Australia and so the complex was opened two months later this summer. To thank swimmers for their patience, the council is holding a free day on Saturday January 28. The main swimming pool was built in 1911 on the site of a quarry. At the time it was the largest (50 yards by 25 yards) inland pool in New Zealand. An interesting feature was that it had concrete sides but a clay bottom. It was filled by water from a nearby water race, which was untreated and unfiltered. The water was always green and the bottom was invisible but it did not stop its popularity. In 1967 a massive Queen carnival fundraising by the Carterton Jaycees raised twice what was required (?4800) to purchase a pump system and so as well as the pump, a toddlers and learners pool were built. Buoyed by this successful fundraising the Jaycees managed to raise $120,000 for an indoor pool and this was opened in August 1987 by Olympic swimmer Anthony Mosse.
