Last ditch effort to save Hamilton's municipal pools

A concept design of a refurbished Municipal Pool. Image / Design Engine Architects

Hamilton's Municipal Pools is in a final battle for survival, hoping city councillors will throw it a lifeline by putting the $1 million earmarked for demolition costs towards a revamp and reopening.

The century-old outdoor swimming pool in Victoria St was closed in June 2012 because of structural and safety issues.

In February, the city council lodged an application to demolish the pools and is currently working through the process of hearing submissions from the public and other interested groups.

Tuesday's HCC community and services committee meeting heard from the lobby group Sink or Swim which is asking for council to use the $1 million cost of demolishing, and returning the park to green space, with other public funding, to reopen the pool.

The group has even had concept designs for what a refurbished Municipal Pool could look like created by Design Engine Architect.

Spokeswoman for the group, Katherine Luketina, told the meeting the Municipal Pool is what the community wants, and the council should be supporting it.

"Outdoor swimming is a favoured type of activity during summer, and in an inland city where we don't have safe swimming in the river, we need to consider that with infill housing and more development, putting a facility back where it has already been, the million dollars will be better spent giving the community what it wants, rather than demolishing."

Councillor Dave Macpherson asked if councillors had been asked what they wanted to go into the staff submission as part of the hearings for the demolition of the pool.

"I'm trying to figure out when councillors will get a chance to have a say on what
happens," Mr Macpherson said.

"Where and when will we get our input?"

Deputy chief executive Lance Vervoort said a timeline would be sent out to councillors on if, and when they could have a say.

Of the 31 submissions made to council over the fate of the pools, only one was in support of its demolition.

One submitter, Dr Dot Smyth, said she had been swimming at the pools since she arrived from South Africa in 1994.

"I live in south Hamilton and find this pool easier to access than Gallaghers which has too few lanes and often lanes are used for inflatables," Mrs Smyth said.

"Historic buildings (like the municipal pools) do not usually gain easy resource consent for demolition.

"In my work it is important to promote health and fitness, not demolish it."

Another submitter, Gail Jonson, who was a NZ swim representative at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics, said the pools were suited for many members of the community.

"There are not many other pools like it in New Zealand — it is a historic place — and should be cherished and not demolished," Ms Jonson said.

"Learning to swim is a basic that all New Zealanders should have. I do not see the benefit of turning this facility into a green zone as an opportunity to have learn this life saving skill."

Because of the submissions, a demolition consent hearing could be held by an independent commissioner, the process could take up to six months.

Hamilton City Council is looking to construct a new swimming pool, with the help of private partnership, at the proposed Rototuna Town centre in the north east of Hamilton.