Pool access should be affordable

As an official and president of the Te Awamutu Swimming Club 25 years ago, I was involved in the promotion of a new indoor, all-year-round, swimming facility for the Te Awamutu community.

I, like many others, made a large monetary contribution to the new proposed complex.

Prior to the current swimming facility there was an older 331⁄3 yard and newer 25m pool on what is now Anzac Green.

In those days for around $30 a “family season ticket” could be purchased.

The pool was open from mid-October until March the following year.

Back then there were often 250-300 kids at the pools on a hot summer’s day.

At today’ s prices, to take my family (two adults and five kids) to the pool costs would cost $41. To do this every day as we often did, the cost would be $287 per week.

Is it any wonder that our pools are not well patronised? How many families can afford these prices?

I’m expecting the response to the effect that pools cost a lot of money to operate and maintain etc.

Well, so do libraries, playgrounds, parks, museums, rose gardens etc but these are free to the public.

There are many good reasons for swimming pools: to develop water confidence; learn to swim; keep the kids off the streets and cellphones; just cool off! etc etc.

This whole area needs to be given a good shakeup. We need facilities that Joe Public and family can afford so the pools will be used to the maximum.

These pools were paid for by ratepayers and they should be affordable for all (direct or indirect) ratepayers.

Fees for competitive swimmers are now unaffordable for most families.

Steve Wilson