New trust hopes to save pool from closing

The Gore District Council will close the Mataura Pool for good this Sunday but the pool may have just been thrown a life buoy.

Three Mataura locals are forming the Mataura Enriching Lives Trust - MELT for short, and plan to operate the pool as a nonprofit, independent entity.

Spokeswoman Birgit Schonberger said the trust had a meeting with council representatives on Monday night, which was ‘‘incredibly positive.’’

‘‘They were so co-operative, I was really surprised, but they genuinely want to help.

‘‘I’m confident, really confident, that it’s going to stay open, now we just have to go through the process.’’

The trust now has to write a business plan and present it to the council.

If it is approved, they will initially be given a one-year lease on the facility, which could extend to five years in the future.

‘‘We plan to run some businesses and the profit from them will go back into running the pool. So even if people don’t use the pool, they can support us by supporting the businesses.’’

‘‘We are aiming to have free swimming admission and have means by which running costs are not dependant on swimming admissions. If our vision works, ratepayers and people renting houses in our area will be able to use the swimming facilities either for free or by minimum gold coin donation.

‘‘We plan to have it open a lot more and eventually we’d like to set up a gym and put in a spa but that’s a bit further down the track, but we have a lot of ideas we’re working away on.’’

Schonberger said a lot of young families had moved to Mataura and the facility would be used.

The trust’s social media page had had plenty of support and people had already pledged money and their time to help the trust, she said.

The Gore District Council decided to close the pool due to falling patronage and increased running costs.

Admission fees only covered a proportion of operating costs, with the council topping it up by $135,706 each year.

It is planning to build a ‘‘unique sporting and leisure destination’’ in the pool’s place.

Gore District Mayor Tracy Hicks said if an opportunity for the pool to stay open then the council was happy to consider it.

‘‘Three people have formed a trust and they were asking the council what the immediate plans are for the pool when it finishes up on Sunday.

‘‘They want to bring us a proposal to keep the pool open and I’m more than happy to give them some breathing space to to that.’’