Aquatic Centre gets go ahead for $15 million do-up

UPGRADE: Rotorua district councillors have approved a $15 million refurbishment of the city's Aquatic Centre - but they will have to find $7.5 million of external funding. PICTURE/FILE

Rotorua Lakes Council has agreed to pay for half of a $15 million upgrade to the city's Aquatic Centre, with councillors defending the use of ratepayers' money for "necessary repairs and maintenance" to the facility.

But the project faces an uphill struggle to attract $7.5 million of commercial or partnership funding, according to one councillor.

The council's planned refurbishment of the Aquatic Centre would include an upgrade of its 40-year-old heated outdoor pool, and the creation of a dedicated learn-to-swim pool.

In the public hearings and deliberations over the 2015-2025 Long-term Plan, proposed capital spending projects polarised opinion.

However, even councillors staunchly opposed to increased public spending appear to have accepted the need to fund improvements at the Aquatic Centre.

"$5 million of that was going to have to be spent anyway," councillor Rob Kent said yesterday.

"We have got to do these repairs to get this facility operational."

Councillor Charles Sturt was the mover of the motion to approve the refurbishment.

That motion was split into two clauses, with the first guaranteeing $5 million in the Long-term Plan for "required renewals" at the Aquatic Centre.

The second approved a $10 million "redevelopment" of the facility - provided the council found $7.5 million of external funding.

Mr Kent was far from confident about the possibility of finding a commercial partner willing to stump up that amount.

"It's a gamble," he said. "You certainly can't bank on it."

Under the council's proposal, the average Rotorua ratepayer could expect to pay an extra $8.50 a year over 15 years for upgrades to the Aquatic Centre.

Councillor Karen Hunt yesterday praised the decision to approve to the refurbishment plan.

"The facility has been adequate for a long time, but I don't believe adequate is what we should be aiming for," she said.

Mrs Hunt said she appreciated the concerns about increased public spending, but stressed that councillors were well aware of the possible implications this might have on debt.

"People forget this is a 10-year plan, and we are being much smarter recognising how much we will actually get done," she said.

Upgrade would include:
- Creation of dedicated learn-to-swim pool
- New cafe to further integrate centre with Kuirau Park
- Upgrade of the 50m heated outdoor pool
- Re-roofing the indoor pool
- Redesign of the reception and changing rooms
- Addition of more play structures to indoor areas