Trustees visited the Roxburgh pool in late March and last week granted $920,766 towards bringing a new Roxburgh pool to fruition.
Grants manager Mat Begg said the trust was convinced of the need.
"Roxburgh desperately needs a modern, safe swimming complex, where kids can have fun and learn to be safe in the water and everyone can swim or participate in aquatic exercise.
"Sixteen years in the making, Roxburgh can hopefully look forward to a new public swimming pool sooner rather than later.’’
Roxburgh Pool Punawai Ora "Safe Water’’ Inc chairwoman Sally Feinerman said a core committee had worked hard to get the project off the ground.
The existing pool was 89 years old and had served the community well.
"Thanks to a small, dedicated group of volunteers the old pool has been available for public use over the past nine summers, but it has reached its use-by date.
"The pipework and plumbing is beyond repair, the boiler doesn’t work, the solar panels are unusable and it leaks like a sieve.’’
Ms Feinerman said the trust’s commitment coupled with other funding, including $500,000 from the Central Otago District Council signed off when the council adopted its 2021-31 long-term plan last week and $200,000 from the Ida MacDonald Charitable Trust, brought the $2.5 million project close to 70% funded.
"We are really keen to raise the rest of the money we need and get on with it.
"Ideally, we would like to start building this summer.’’
The new Roxburgh pool would be built on the current site, at the rear of Roxburgh Area School, the new facility being pushed out on to what is road reserve to accommodate the 25m four-lane main pool, plus new change rooms, office space and plant room, as well as dedicated learners’ and toddlers’ pool with a beach access.
Eighteen grants totalling more than $1.5 million were approved in the trust’s second meeting for the financial year.
