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Short-term repairs will see the Wanganui East pool opening for this summer but a cloud hangs over the future of the facility.
The Wanganui District Council has tagged a maximum of $40,000 for urgently needed short-term repairs but an in-depth report being prepared for the council could signal more drastic decisions will follow. At least one councillor has called for its closure.
And before the pool opens - probably at the start of December - the council also wants assurances that pool water quality meets accepted standards.
Leighton Toy, council deputy property manager, told councillors meeting this week that the pool was almost 100 years old and nearing the end of its economic life.
He said the pool had lost almost 18 million litres of water over the first six months of this year that was unaccounted for.
In September the council called for a report on the long-term viability of the pool as well as cost of intermediate repairs so it could open this summer.
Attendance figures have averaged almost 15,000 a year over the last five seasons although the number was inflated last summer when the Wanganui East Pool Trust running the facility made entry free to under-12s.
Mr Toy said repairs to cracks in some of the pools, a repaint to some areas and repairs to parts of the fencing will be needed immediately.
The hydroslide and the boiler need repairs but they will not be included in this upgrade. In the meantime, technicians will be carrying out an underground radar check to test the bottom of the pools and their foundations.
"At this stage the great unknown is the condition of the concrete and possible voids in the soft pumice soil supporting the floor of the pools," said Mr Toy.
The other major issue is the pool's filtration plant, which is not meeting industry standards. Bringing that up to standard would cost about $500,000.
Councillor Sue Westwood said if the council turned its back on the Wanganui East pool it would be ignoring a community that needs the facility.
But she said more information was needed and for that reason abstained from voting.
Toddy Sollitt, who manages the pool trust, said the pool had never had a bad report about its water quality.
"The point is this pool is the only swimming option for kids who can't to go to the Splash Centre or anywhere else because they can't afford it ... " Mr Sollitt said. "Schools use it all the time. Gonville School buses kids over as part of their curriculum."
He said the crack in the pools - the main pool, the learners' pool and the much smaller pool below the hydroslide - can easily be fixed.
Councillor Ray Stevens said he had concerns about health and safety issues.
Councillor Helen Craig said it threw up a number of questions that needed answering, such as why were schools avoiding using the Splash Centre.
Councillor Hamish McDouall said while the Wanganui East complex was "haggard and care-worn" it remained vitally important in that suburb.
He said the council should be considering putting the money toward a complete rebuild.
Councillor Rob Vinsen wants the council to adopt a closure strategy for the pool.
The recommendation was supported by Mayor Annette Main, and Mr McDouall, Ms Craig, Mr Vinsen, Rangi Wills, Charlie Anderson, Philippa Baker-Hogan, Jenny Duncan and Martin Visser.
Mrs Westwood abstained and Mr Stevens voted against the proposal.
Mr Laws had left the meeting before this debate.