Queenstown's $18 million Alpine Aqualand aquatic centre at Frankton is facing a projected $77,000 funding shortfall to cover power costs in its first year of operation, its management company, Lakes Leisure, confirmed yesterday.
In an attempt to reduce that deficit, the two commercial swimming schools at the complex will have their access to facilities restricted during peak hours, allowing for greater use by the in-house learn-to-swim programme.
Yesterday's announcement is the latest problem for the aquatic centre since it opened on May 31, following the closure of the fast-speed hydroslide after 69 injuries earlier this month, closure of the lap swimming pool in November, failure of a heating coil in August and water temperature problems in June.
Lakes Leisure is a not-for-profit company controlled by the Queenstown Lakes District Council which manages sports fields, venues and aquatic centres.
Fiona McKissock, who has been the company's CEO for three months, said in a statement yesterday the "real costs" of running Alpine Aqualand had now been determined, eight months after the complex opened.
This showed the initial forecast of power costs had been "significantly underestimated" by at least $70,000.
Aquatics general manager Cam Sheppard said the original estimate by facility design team LHT Ltd, before Aqualand was handed over to Lakes Leisure, was $294,000.
However, the forecasted energy cost for 2008-09 was actually $371,000.
Restricting use of the complex by commercial operators, to allow for greater use by those patronising the in-house learn-to-swim programme, could produce a surplus of between $30,000 and $70,000 a term, depending on community support.
Inhouse swim school entry costs $8.50 - $3.75 less than the two commercial operators, who charged $10 a lesson plus pool entry fee.
Inhouse profits would be redirected back to offset Aqualand overheads.
Wakatipu Swim School was using the learner's pool on Mondays, Fridays and Sundays, while Water Discovery was in session on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays.
In future, they would be restricted to operating on Sundays and a five-day block during school holidays, from January 5.
Mr Sheppard said the decision was not made lightly.
Wakatipu Swim School director Jane Hughes said: "I'm in the process of evaluating how it will impact our school. My mother and I have been teaching swimming in the Wakatipu for 34 years, I'm hoping we'll be able to continue with community support."
QLDC acting chief executive Stewart Burns said it was too early to consider any further action on the council's part.
Alpine Aqualand costs $1.033 million to operate a year, $506,000 of that sum funded by ratepayers.
The rest is topped up by user payments such as memberships, pool entries, hydroslide passes and inhouse swim school fees.
Alpine Aqualand averages 15,000 customers a month.
The same peak hours restriction on commercial operators will also apply to the Wanaka community pool.
