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Queenstown's Alpine Aqualand swimming pool will reopen at weekends from this Saturday.
The Queenstown Lakes District Council was forced to shut the council-owned facility every weekend from February 18 due to a critical lifeguard shortage.
Ordinarily, the community pool operated 199 rostered hours a week but by the end of January they were short 144 of the required hours — or at least three full-time lifeguards and one or two part-timers — to safely staff the facility, which includes a lap pool, leisure pool, lazy river, two hydroslides, a tapered toddlers’ pool, a hot pool and learners’ pool for swimming lessons.
Sport and recreation manager Simon Battrick said it was a "difficult decision" to shut the doors at weekends, but following a successful lifeguard recruitment campaign — which was ongoing — he was excited to welcome the community back.
"Swimming is such an essential skill and we appreciate how families love coming here on the weekends to spend quality time together.
"We’re all looking forward to seeing a great turnout and welcoming everyone back at Alpine Aqualand."
The council was still short-staffed across several aquatic roles but while the lifeguard shortage was still being felt, there were enough applications and trainees to fully staff the week ahead, Mr Battrick said.
This weekend both hydroslides, in operation from 10.30am, will be free to use with standard pool entry payment.
