By ROSALEEN MACBRAYNE
MT MAUNGANUI - District councillors have scuttled a $6 million proposal to expand the Mt Maunganui hot salt-water pools.
The expansion would have involved the loss of about 100 sites at the neighbouring Domain Motor Camp.
The Tauranga District Council was told that, even though the long-established beachside camping ground would have remained viable, it was a "national treasure" and an attraction in its own right.
Some perceived the camp as a place of historic and cultural significance.
After extensive consultation, the council's policy and resources committee rejected the plan this week, saying it was time to look elsewhere to develop future aquatic facilities.
Other considerations were traffic congestion and parking problems in the busy area below Mauao (Mt Maunganui), and the fears of regular therapeutic bathers that added pools would be accompanied by raised admission charges.
The district council's pools operator had proposed a more interactive, lagoon-like leisure complex with a hydroslide and other family attractions on the Pilot Bay side of the motor camp.
But Stuart Crosby, chairman of the policy and resources committee, said submissions made it clear the public valued open spaces in the downtown Mount area more than ever, though a more modest expansion of the existing hot pools at some time should not be ruled out.
Supporters of the move said Tauranga was behind many other centres in aquatic facilities, and the camp sites on the harbour side were mostly unused for nine months of the year.
At present, one large "active" pool and several hotter soak pools are provided.
Making the most of them yesterday were New Zealand Rugby Sevens players on a two-day training camp at Mt Maunganui in preparation for the Paris Sevens this month.
Coach Gordon Tietjens said the salt-water pool sessions were ideal for "recovery" after hard training, including a 7 am beach run, two hours on the rugby field and a gym workout.
Expansion of pools ruled out
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