Children look at the whale paddling pool at Marlow Park in
St Kilda, Dunedin, which is closed for repairs. Photo by
Craig Baxter.
It sounds like a whale of a tale, but after more than 40
years as a source of entertainment for Dunedin children the
concrete whale at the centre of a paddling pool at Marlow Park
has had a summer off.
Dunedin City Council parks and reserves team leader Martin
Thompson said the paddling pool structure, which has a large
sculptured concrete whale at its centre, would be closed for
the next three to four months while structural repairs were
carried out.
The paddling pool and play area closed late last year after a
mid-year council safety audit of equipment showed its steel
reinforcing, particularly in the tail section, had corroded.
"The report highlighted it should be programmed as a
high-priority. Ideally, it would be done out of season
because it is a popular feature.
"But once the report was back and safety was identified as an
issue, it was closed immediately until contractors were
available."
Repairs, including concreting and painting, would cost about
$10,000.
Other equipment at Marlow Park, which is widely known as
"Dinosaur Park", was repaired in 2001 during a major upgrade
of facilities, he said.
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