High school proposes $32m pool
Palmerston North high school St Peter’s College has proposed the city council help it build a $29 million to $32m swimming pool complex on its property.
Principal David Olivier and board of trustees chairman Robert Coulson put the preliminary plan to the council’s sport and recreation committee on Wednesday.
Mayor Grant Smith said it was great to see the college ‘‘shooting for the stars’’.
‘‘But I took a huge swallow when I saw the price.’’
The proposal arose partly in response to recent approaches to the council about lack of access to pool space in the city for club and casual swimmers, and for sports such as canoe polo.
‘‘Currently, Palmerston North’s pools are overflowing,’’ Olivier said.
He said the proposal was for a 50-metre pool, which would be 25m or 10 lanes wide.
It would have a movable floor to accommodate pool depths ranging from 0.9m to 3m so it could be used for water polo, canoe polo and underwater hockey, as well as swimming.
Separate rooms would be available for other purposes, such as storing kayaks.
There would be seating for at least 1200 spectators, creating greater capacity to host national events. Those events would bring economic benefits to the region, estimated at about $2m a year, through attracting more visitors.
Olivier said the school land was owned by the Catholic Diocese, and the church was committed to making the site available for the project. The school was prepared to do significant fundraising to boost its contribution.
Coulson said the school and council were unlikely to be able to afford the building without regional and even national support.
Dannevirke swim coach Lin Tozer, one of those who has talked about the need for more pool space, said after the meeting that the council should spread its investment.
‘‘If there is that much money available to spend, they should be looking to create more capacity for learn-to-swim, rather than catering for an elite sport.’’
Cr Lew Findlay said the proposed facility should have a gym and space for diving, or it could become a white elephant.
He said it could become the premier water sports venue, with the advantage of freeing up space at other city pools.
Cr Duncan Mccann said he supported ‘‘the lofty ambition’’.
However, spending on that scale could have to be put off until well into the future, after the city had invested in improvements to its wastewater treatment.