Bill Acklin
Dunedin's swimming community will meet today to discuss
future plans after the Dunedin City Council agreed a Dunedin
swim coaching board be established to oversee coaching services
at Moana Pool.
Councillors this week agreed to the coaching board idea as
part of a parcel of recommendations from an independent
review panel on the future provision of swim coaching
services at the pool.
The review coincided with the pending expiration of
professional swim coaching contracts at the pool and looked
at general issues around swim coaching and pool space and
time allocation among swimming clubs, other pool users and
various training squads.
It was agreed the community development committee chairman,
Cr Bill Acklin, and deputy chairman Cr Paul Hudson would
consult Dunedin's swimming community over the board proposal
and approve a final structure and approach for the board.
If significant alternative arrangements to those suggested by
the independent review panel are preferred following
consultation, they will have to go back to the committee for
approval.
The review panel recommended the volunteer board would have a
contractual relationship with the council to provide swim
coaching to squad-based swimmers and general assistance and
guidance across all levels of swim training, and implement 13
other panel recommendations on new swim coaching arrangements
at the pool.
Discussions would also be held with swimming clubs about
amalgamations to allow for better use of the pool.
Council aquatic services manager Steve Prescott said an
initial meeting would be held with the swimming community
today to discuss a plan for how the consultation would work.
Cr Acklin said the committee expressly thanked the volunteer
review panel of Dr David Gerrard, John Brimble and Mark Bone
for their report and recommendations.
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