Roxburgh Pool Punawai Ora (Safe Water) chairwoman Sally Feinerman said the 16-year project had been under way longer than she had lived in Roxburgh, but the end was definitely in sight.
"Some mornings I really have to wake up and pinch myself that we are this far along.’’
Sourcing grants from Central Lakes Trust, Otago Community Trust, Lotteries Grants and Central Otago District Council, along with many smaller sponsors, had given the project the momentum to get to this stage. The project had a fundraising target of $2.5 million.
The Teviot Valley-based Ida MacDonald Trust had stepped up and would be the naming sponsor, she said.
Contact Energy was also a sponsor and would fund a system using solar panels to power the heat pumps used to heat the water.
The pool would probably be open each year from about November to April, Mrs Feinerman said.
Even though the finish date was likely to be at the end of the pool season, an official opening would be held, even if there was no water in the pools.
"We’re so excited to open this after all this time that we’re not going to wait until next season.’’
Christchurch-based project management company Inovo had been key to getting the project under way, she said.
"Without them we wouldn’t have got this project off the ground. They’ve been absolutely phenomenal.’’
Breen Construction, of Alexandra, was building and doing day-to-day management.
Mrs Feinerman said it was reassuring for the committee that they had a great team working for them, which took off a lot of pressure.
Blocklaying on the main building, which would house the plant room, changing rooms and an office, was progressing and ramps into the main and learners’ pools were in place.
The complex would have three pools — an official standard short-course (25m) pool, a learners’ pool and a toddlers’ learn-to-swim area.
Ramps would allow for easier access to the main and learners’ pools and the toddlers’ area would be a very shallow beach pool, Mrs Feinerman said.
The pool would have a white liner because a blue one would have cost thousands of dollars more and taken months to arrive from Germany.
The committee decided it did not want any more delays so opted for the white option, she said.
