Marton Swim Centre roof repair estimated at $6m but tender not finalised

Rangitīkei District Council says the Marton Swim Centre upgrade is estimated to cost $6 million. Photo / Rangitīkei District Council

The Marton Swim Centre roof repair project is estimated to cost $6 million, with a meeting in April to finalise key details.

Rangitīkei District Council said the project was “well advanced” in securing a preferred contractor and detailed planning.

The estimated cost of construction is $4.9m, bringing the total cost, which includes professional services, site investigations, consents and other associated work, to $6m.

A spokesperson said a report to the April council meeting would outline the evaluation of tenders and available options.

The discussion would not be open to the public because of the “commercial sensitivity of contractor discussions”.

The swim centre’s roof partially collapsed in August 2024 after structural damage to a beam.

The council voted to close the centre for the 2024-25 summer season and it has remained closed.

In March last year, chief operating officer Arno Benadie said the options to fix the roof ranged in cost from less than $1m to about $12m.

The council said the updated figure of $6m reflected more detailed design and quantity surveying work but remained an estimate.

Final costs would not be confirmed until the tender process was completed.

Last September the council voted in favour of an ethylene tetrafluoroethylene (ETFE) roof with a steel frame.

Rangitīkei Mayor Andy Watson said he wanted a “long-term permanent solution” to the swim centre’s future.

“My preference is not to try and patch one beam and then run the risk of further failures elsewhere,” Watson said.

“I’ve always wanted the pool reopened as quickly as we could do it.

“There are all sorts of technical issues associated with the [project] but it is a permanent solution that I want.”

A public update will be provided a week after the meeting.

Fin Ocheduszko Brown is a multimedia journalist based in Whanganui.