Hardy Construction aids Whanganui East pool refurbishment

Sam Hardy (left) and Adriano Nicolini are thrilled with Hardy Construction's role in getting the Whanganui East pool open for the summer season.

Childhood memories were to the fore when Whanganui company Hardy Construction took on part of the Whanganui East swimming pool refurbishment.

Builder Sam Hardy decided to go out on his own and opened Hardy Construction in March 2017, mainly working on new homes, renovations and alterations. However, in late 2017 the company's focus took a turn when it was sub-contracted to work on the Whanganui East pool.

"It's the biggest project that we've done so far in the business," Mr Hardy said.

"I remember coming to the pool as a small boy. When I was at St Mary's primary school we came here for swimming sports and I used to come here during the summer holidays. So it was exciting being involved in this project and knowing that the pool would be reopened."

After ongoing problems with leaks and other issues, the Whanganui District Council contracted Watershed Group from Auckland to do the $300,000 refurbishment ahead of the 2017-18 summer swimming season.

Hardy Construction worked for sub-contractors Filtration and Pumping Commercial Ltd who also contracted local companies Keenan Concrete Services and McKee Bobcat Services plus Manawatu-based painting company Martin Beveridge Ltd.

The work included correcting the in-pool supply and circulation system and replacing the corroded galvanised pipe rails with new stainless steel pipe.

"We cut open a 9m by 6m hole in the bottom of the pool and dug it out 2.5m deep," Mr Hardy said.

"Watershed got an X-ray done of the bottom of the pool and it identified a soft spot so we had to remove everything in that area. It was filled with new hardfill and then a new floor was poured.

"For the new circulation system we cut a trench 1m wide by 800cm deep along the length of the pool and put in a new sparge line and that corrected the circulation.

"We're very proud that we completed the job five days before the council's deadline and within budget."

Hardy Construction foreman Adriano Nicolini was in charge on site and was assisted by a couple of apprentices, with Mr Hardy as project manager.

"It was a good job - I loved to do it," Mr Nicolini said. "I think because it was local companies working together everyone wanted to do a really good job."

With the pool job completed, it's back to houses for Mr Hardy with building work lined up in early 2018 in Halcombe and Hunterville.