May 19th 2014

Public swimming pools return to Council management

Hastings District Councillors have confirmed a proposal which will allow the management of Flaxmere Waterworld, Frimley and Havelock North pools to return to Council.

The three facilities are owned by Council but currently the Flaxmere and Frimley facilities are operated by the Swim Heretaunga Trust (15 years) and the village facility by the Havelock North Village Pool Trust (over 20 years). The trusts receive an annual operations grant from Council and are accountable for the financial viability of the complex and all staffing arrangements.

Councillor Sandra Hazlehurst says “Both trusts have given long and valuable service to the community while operating the facilities and Council is indebted to the trust members for their expertise and dedication to ensuring the pools have always been seen as an extremely valuable asset for the whole community.”

“The Aquatic Facilities Strategy, which was completed in 2011, identified that the existing pool governance and management arrangements should be changed to ensure all the facilities were operated in an integrated way. The changes to the management structure will allow Council to make informed decisions with the aim of improving the use of all the facilities and improving the financial viability of the pools,” Sandra Hazlehurst says.

“Future improvements for users that Council will be exploring include an integrated learn to swim programme, extended hours for recreational use at some pools and a single pool entry card that can be used across all pools.”

Sandra Hazlehurst says “It is important to note that pool users will not experience any changes to their regular use during this transition to new management. We understand that some of the members of the trusts are disappointed at the change but Council is committed to ensuring that the operation of the pools is enhanced and that the expertise that is available in each of the facilities is retained.”

Waterworld, Frimley and Havelock North Pools will join the Clive Pool and Splash Planet in Council’s Aquatic Group. This will allow a focussed governance and management structure to be implemented across the group which will facilitate greater use of the facilities and improved levels of service.

ENDS

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