Scoop has an Ethical Paywall
‘Free’ swimming pools will cost miles more than $5.5m
Media release
Auckland Councillor Cameron Brewer
Saturday, 29 October 2011
‘Free’ swimming pools will cost miles more than $5.5m
Universal free public access to Auckland Council’s 24 swimming pools will cost a lot more than is being claimed by Mayor Len Brown, says Auckland Councillor Cameron Brewer.
“The Mayor’s telling everyone that free entry to the region’s 24 pools will cost ratepayers $5.5 million. Yet it cost ratepayers $6.7m to keep six pools free last year in Manukau alone.
“If it already costs ratepayers over $1m per free pool in Manukau, then it’s going to cost a lot more than $5.5m to keep 24 pools free region-wide.
“The Mayor is trying to hook everyone in by banding around the $5.5m figure, but his own experience in Manukau shows it could possibly be five times more expensive.
“What’s more, a universal free swimming pool policy would bring significant added costs to Auckland’s 24 swimming complexes, such as the need for bigger changing facilities, more staff, and overall much more on-going maintenance,” says Cameron Brewer
Ends
Gordon Campbell: On The Political Panic Over Immigration
Internal Affairs: Citizenship Test For Citizenship By Grant Applicants From Late 2027
Dayenu: Condemning Use Of Government Funding For Extremist Report On Antisemitism
PSA: Councils Must Work With Unions And Communities In Fast-Track Reform
Tauranga City Council: Mauao Restoration Work Has Begun
Horizon Research: New Poll Finds High Concern About Fuel Situation
Tiaki Wai: Over 1,150 People Give Feedback On Tiaki Wai Water Services Strategy
