Board, school proposing pools

A two-pool complex to replace Roxburgh's ageing swimming pool is back on the starting blocks, as a joint venture between the town's school and community board.

Plans for a new facility, which included a main pool and a learner's pool, sank last year, after the Roxburgh Community Board received an estimate of $1 million for the project.

It decided to scale back the plans to something more affordable, which meant only one pool would be constructed.

The board ruled out upgrading the 80-year-old facility, which is partly on Central Otago District Council land and partly on Roxburgh Area School land, because of the state of the pool.

Board chairman Stephen Jeffery told the community board meeting this week the school's board of trustees and community board had agreed in principle to work together on the project and were reviving plans for a two-pool complex.

Board of trustees member and former pool committee member Rick Kristel yesterday said the joint venture should "give us more bang for our buck".

"This is the way forward ... and the fundraising for the complex will probably come under the one umbrella."

A learner's and therapeutic pool would be built on the school ground and a main pool on the adjacent council land, he said.

The two pools would share dressing room facilities and there would be other cost savings.

Heating for the learner's pool could be provided from the school boiler.

Mr Kristel said the next stage was to explore all the possible avenues for funding the project.

Both pools would be uncovered.

"Originally a covered pool was on the community's wish list, but the cost of that is prohibitive."

Other areas had successfully constructed and operated a pool complex as a joint venture between the community and a school.

Mossburn, in Southland, was one example, he said.