Aquatic Centre now includes 3-metre diving platform

Aquatic Centre now includes 3-metre diving platform

A permanent three-metre diving platform is to be incorporated in the Caroline Bay Aquatic Centre.

A change in the depth at one end of the main 25-metre lap pool has been made by the project’s architects following requests by the Timaru District Council to find a way to meet the community’s wishes for extra diving facilities.
Concerns had earlier been expressed at the loss of the old diving well at Maori Park and the fact that the new aquatic centre would not offer a platform above one metre.

The council asked architects Boon Goldsmith Bhaskar Brebner Team Architects to look for ways to incorporate a higher platform, noting that regulations required pool depths of 3.4 metres for a one-metre board and 3.5 metres for a three-metre board along with other criteria.

Councillors will formally learn on Tuesday (February 22) in a progress report from their architects that the deep end of the pool will be increased from 2.2 metres to 3.5 metres and a permanent three-metre platform will be installed using the hydroslide stair tower for access.

Council district services manager Ashley Harper says the redesign will be welcomed by both the council and the community.

“The council was conscious of concerns and was listening to the community about the lack of high-diving facilities beyond a demountable one-metre board,” Mr Harper said.

“But diving into a pool presents a raft of public safety regulations both in terms of sufficient depth for divers to round-out underwater safely as well as the safety of other pool users,” Mr Harper said.

“We are delighted our architects have found a solution and that the wishes of the community can be met.”

Project architect Glenn Brebner says in a progress report to be presented to Tuesday’s council meeting that additional project costs “would be constrained to the capital cost of the diving board and platforms and costs associated with pool tank construction and surfacing”.

“The cost for the additional work is able to be incorporated within the original budget and we have resolved to include this feature as it provides a key activity for the teen and young adult markets, plus [it will be] a further attractor to the facility.”

Mr Brebner said the substantial depth increase at one end of the main pool would have only minor effects on filtration and heating because the surface area of the pool remains the same, Mr Brebner says.

He said the extra depth would extend across the whole width of the pool end to meet competition standards.

ENDS

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