Pool stays shut for quake work
Tawa Pool, which has just undergone a $ 2.1 million makeover, is to remain closed indefinitely for earthquakestrengthening work.
The 40-year-old pool has been closed since October for maintenance work, which included replacing the roof and windows, resurfacing the floors and installing a vapour barrier and acoustic ceiling.
The pool was scheduled to re-open in April but Wellington City Council announced this week that it would remain closed because extra structural work needed to be carried out on the pool buildings.
Council recreation manager Julian Todd said he did not know how long the pool would be closed.
He said he was waiting for a report from council engineers that would determine what work needed to be done and how long it would take.
‘‘Once we’ve got an indication of what work is required, we can put a building programme in place.’’
As part of the scheduled maintenance programme, some earthquake strengthening work was carried out.
Mr Todd said the need for extra strengthening of the pool buildings was not noticed until work was well under way.
‘‘ As the work has continued, we’ve had to open up the next stage of the building – removing the walls and the like – and that’s when we discovered there needs to be more structural work done.’’
The council was reviewing all its buildings and structures in light of the Christchurch earthquakes, he said.
‘‘As part of this work we took another look at the pool building, which dates back to 1972.
‘‘We decided we should do more work now rather than have to come back again further down the track, especially if, as is expected, tougher engineering standards are imposed nationally.’’
Mr Todd said it was likely additional strengthening would add to the cost, but he did not know what that cost would be.
The pool itself was earthquake safe, Mr Todd said.
Council spokeswoman Bridget Parrott said none of the other council pools had been identified as being earthquake-prone, but that every pool underwent a fiveyearly maintenance check.