JANUARY 2013

POOL EMPTIED TO UNDERGO REFURBISHMENT AND FILTER REPLACEMENT
Skateboarders Once in a Lifetime Opportunity to Tackle Newmarket Olympic Pool

One of New Zealand’s foremost skateboarders Simon Thorp and friends will skate the Newmarket Olympic Pool tomorrow (Friday Jan 3 2014)11am.

The pool has been emptied of its almost 1.5 million litres of water as the filters and the pool are undergoing a $300,000 refurbishment.

With the deepest part of the pool at 4.3 metres it has become a vast empty space as it undergoes maintenance providing the perfect environment for the ambitious skateboarder.

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CAPTION: Simon Thorp skateboarding at Newmarket Pool

It took 24 hours to drain the pool and will take up to 48 hours to refill it so that neighbouring water pressure is not affected.

The new filters for the pool are supplied by the world-renowned filter manufacturers, Neptune Benson, and Newmarket is the first pool in NZ to install the company’s new Defender technology. The original filter system was installed in 1940 when the pool was built.

The new filter system is compact while the old filter shells are large cylinders and it is planned that will be reconfigured to capture rainwater and eventually supply the pools with supplementary water that is required throughout the complex.

“We are very focused on being energy efficient, “ said Director Olympic Pools and Fitness Centre Rob Nikkel, “and providing the best possible environment for everyone who uses the pool and the complex”

There is a proposal from The Olympic Pool and Fitness Centre Ltd to spend millions of dollars for ongoing upgrading of the complex as a community facility. Yearly there are almost 450,000 visits for swimming and exercise.

The Newmarket Olympic Pool is an excellent example of a private public partnership, owned by the Auckland City Council but run by The Olympic Pool and Fitness Centre Ltd which makes all the investment in the development and upkeep of the complex at no cost to ratepayers.

This year the Olympic Pool celebrates its 75th year. It is the only covered Olympic size pool in Central Auckland originally commissioned in anticipation of the 1950 Empire Games. It also celebrates the 20 years partnership of The Auckland City Council and The Olympic Pool and Fitness Centre Ltd.

ENDS

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