The former Tinwald Pool in Ashburton has been filled in, without the council's approval.

Plans for the redevelopment of the site haven’t been signed off by the Ashburton District Council, meaning no funds have been assigned to any work, yet contractors were on site on Monday filling in the former community pool.

It's understood that the Tinwald Reserve Board pulled the trigger on the work, catching the council off guard, who then wanted an explanation.

The council decided to permanently close the Tinwald Pool last year because it needed an estimated $3m of repair and upgrade work in addition to around $400,000 annual operating costs.

The site was handed back to the Tinwald Reserve Board to consider its future.

The board, chaired by Cr Leen Braam and also has Cr Phill Hooper, sought suggestions from the public for a concept plan, with the knowledge that the council had no money budgeted in the long-term plan for any redevelopment.

At the council activity briefing meeting in July, Cr Russell Ellis made note of the agenda item from the Tinwald Reserve Board that stated “Leen [Braam] presented the concept plan for the families area that will replace the old Tinwald Pool site”.

Ellis asked if council would see those plans and democracy and engagement group manager Toni Durhmam said that was the intention.

“The next step in the process is it would be brought to council to see, okay, do you agree? And if so, the magic funding question.”

Two months later, contractors have moved in plans unseen and the ‘magic funding question’ is unanswered.

It’s understood that the Tinwald Reserve Board was asked for an explanation at its meeting on Monday night.

Braam said the board has begun the first stage of a project to turn the old Tinwald Pool into a family play and picnic area.

The main pool and children’s pool are being filled with shingle and the board will soon present its development plan to council before initiating stage two.

In council's response, Braam said stage one involved breaking up the bottom of the pool and then filling it with shingle.

“The second stage will involve creating a playground for younger children, and we’ve got plans to install large jumping pillows in the pool cavity.”

Braam said the reserve board was undertaking and paying for stage one from its own budget.

“We really did need to do something with the empty pool from a health and safety point of view and so the reserve board has gone ahead with stage one.

“We’ll be talking with council, showing them our plans for stage two, and seeking their final approval for the development in the next few months.”

Stage one is expected to be finished by the end of the week and work is confined to the old pool area. Braam said it was sad to see the pool filled in but it was not feasible to spend $3m upgrading the facility, when it was used by so few swimmers over the summer months.

“We think this renovation project is a good opportunity to pay homage to the old pool and create a new play area that will be free to use, year round.”

Ultimately, the council, when it finally reviews the plans, will determine what the redevelopment looks like and how it will be funded.

-LDR is local body journalism funded by RNZ and NZ on Air

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