Pool users making waves over size issues
Calls for a bigger aquatic facility in Palmerston North to handle an increasing lack of lane space are getting louder.
Some aquatic sporting codes want a bigger pool in Palmerston North to cater for swim clubs, learn-to-swim groups, water polo, canoe polo and recreational users.
Some swim clubs are packed into limited lane space due to demand for pools and water polo has to travel to Wellington for competition because no pool in Manawatu¯ is big enough.
Nicholas Jessen presented to the Palmerston North City Council on Wednesday asking it to recognise there was a lack of aquatic facilities in the city and to prioritise funds in the Long-term Plan for a feasibility study.
‘‘I’mnot trying to bring a problem to the council. In fact, it’s an opportunity for the city to get ahead in providing a facility.
‘‘The Palmerston North facilities are fantastic, but they do not meet requirements for a lot of the users.’’
Jessen, who has been a swimmer all his life, said the 25 metre indoor pool at the Lido wasn’t deep enough for water polo, had no seating so couldn’t hold major events, and was the only pool available during winter when the outdoor pool closes.
A new facility would ‘‘provide for everybody in the next 50 years’’ and Jessen used Hastings, which was earlier this year awarded up to $32 million as a Government shovel-ready project, as an example of what Palmerston North needed to emulate.
He believed a new 50m-by-25m pool with sufficient depth and spectator seating should be built at the Lido.
The Lido’s central location, proximity to other sporting venues and space made it the right option, Jessen said.
St Peter’s College has previously asked the council for funding for a pool complex and Queen Elizabeth College, along with coach Lin Tozer, is looking at turning its rarely used pool into a
Nicholas Jessen
community pool.
But Jessen believed Palmerston North needed a long-termfix, which should be done once and done right.
The council is proposing to look at its aquatic facilities’ needs in the LongTermplan.
Ice Breaker Aquatics chairman Jeff Cruickshank has been working on the presentation and he told Stuff all aquatic users were looking forward to working with the council on a new facility.
‘‘It’s a good time for the council to dream big and do something right for the community and get it right now.
‘‘A lot of things are happening in Palmerston North for the next 50 years. Now is the time to make something happen.’’
Palmerston North earlier this year lost the hosting rights for the North Island secondary schools swimming championships, which had been in the city for 50 years.
But the city doesn’t have a venue capable of hosting it, so it’s hoped a new facility would help attract events.
Cruickshank said the pools wouldn’t cope with Palmerston North’s growing population and it would be cheaper to build a new one now than in the future.
Swimming Manawatu¯ chairwoman Inga Hunter supported the idea of a new pool and said it would be nice to see something done.
’’We’re keen to see whatever works for all the aquatic sports in the region. It’s not just swimming.
‘‘It has to benefit the other sports too.’’
I’m not trying to bring a problem to the council. In fact, it’s an opportunity for the city to get ahead in providing a facility.