A paperwork delay has frustrated community efforts to replace Lawrence's ageing swimming pool.
A report tabled at the Lawrence-Tuapeka Community Board meeting on Wednesday stated plans for the new centre had been ''frustratingly stalled for some months now''.
Tuapeka Aquatic Centre Inc chairman and board member Garry McCorkindale said the delay was caused by an independent consultant engineer working for contractor Calder Stewart not delivering his certification on time.
''It is extremely frustrating. We are getting a lot of questions from the community.''
''This has been embarrassing for not only Calder Stewart, but also the building committee, as they seek to maintain momentum and get the project started before winter sets in.''
Mr McCorkindale said the group hoped they would have a ''producer statement'', but had faced delays since October. The certificate was required before a building consent could be lodged with the Clutha District Council.
The building committee was ready to proceed with site-clearing as soon as the application was filed.
''We are just waiting for the go signal.''
Calder Stewart had assured the building committee there was still a good window in which to get excavations and concrete work done before winter, Mr McCorkindale said.
Calder Stewart was unavailable for comment.
The ''Splash Out'' centre will be built in the Lawrence Area School's grounds.
The pool project is capped at $2.5 million, a figure which includes landscaping and contingencies.
The original construction estimate was $1.95 million, but a quote from Milton-based Calder Stewart Industries last year was about $2.25 million.
The Lawrence-Tuapeka community had set a goal of raising $400,000 locally, and the group was confident that would be met, Mr McCorkindale said.
