Keen to get pool back in operation

Tahakopa School pupils (from left), Jacquelyn Barrett (7), Clark Napier (9), Liam Barrett (9),...
Tahakopa School pupils (from left), Jacquelyn Barrett (7), Clark Napier (9), Liam Barrett (9), Sarah Stephens (11), Alex Napier (11) and Braydee Osborne (12) would like to see their pool repaired rather than demolished. At rear: Teacher aide Carol Geissler and parent Craig Napier inspect the pool. PHOTO: RICHARD DAVISON
A small Catlins school is facing the permanent loss of its pool unless funding can be found.

Tahakopa School serves a remote, close-knit community of farming families, and has a roll of just six pupils.

Following damage to the pool's lining eight years ago it fell into disuse due to a lack of funds for repair.

In preparing the school's latest 10-year plan, proposals to address the 52-year-old pool's future were invited from the community, as at present it posed a "health and safety risk", principal Katrina Hampton said.

Failing viable funding emerging to restore it to working order, the Ministry of Education would demolish the facility.

She said "ideally", that would not occur.

"At present we have a one-hour round trip to Owaka for swimming, limiting us to a two-week programme each year.

"I'm told this was a lovely, heated pool that helped many locals learn to swim. It could be restored with a new lining, fencing, filter and pump."

Responding to the call for proposals, resident and former pool technician Don Sinclair said he also wanted to see it preserved, although for different reasons.

He believed the eventual closure of the school was "inevitable", and the pool and school buildings could form part of a future campsite for Tahakopa.

"There comes a point when you have to be realistic. Eventually schools of this size are closed because the roll shrinks to such a size it's no longer economical to run. Tourism is the future for Tahakopa."

Ms Hampton said closure was not an immediate issue for the school.

Although the ministry would not fund pool repairs, it was investing $100,000 in the school's classrooms during the next two years.

"Because of our remoteness, we need a school here. You never know what the future holds, but at present we're a valuable asset to this community, and we're here to stay."

Although alternative grant funding avenues had been considered, most required matching community funding.

On Wednesday, the Otago Community Trust announced a $48,000 grant for upgrades to Clutha Valley's school pool.

A project spokesman confirmed trust funding had been matched by "substantial" community fundraising.

That was simply not possible for a community of Tahakopa's size, Ms Hampton said.

"We're nine families, several retirees, and holiday home visitors. As much as we'd love to co-fund a restoration, I fear it's in the `too hard basket'."

Ministry head of education infrastructure services Kim Shannon said a final decision on the pool's future was a matter "for the school's board".

That decision would have no bearing on the future of the school itself, she said.

"We do not have plans or any intention to close Tahakopa School."

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