This included an increase of about 10% for pool admissions, hire fees and memberships.
Under the proposal, child entry would rise from $4.50 to $5, adult entry from $7.50 to $8.30, senior entry from $5.50 to $6.10, and children’s swim-and-slide passes from $11.50 to $12.60.
Swim and hydroslide access would also be combined into a single fee.
Council finance and policy committee chair Cr Trish Boyle said the proposed increases better reflected the true cost of operating Splash Palace.
‘‘While we know Splash Palace is vital to our community’s physical and social wellbeing, current fees do not fully cover the costs of providing the service,’’ she said.
She acknowledged the increases could affect accessibility, particularly in the current economic climate, but said the council faced a difficult balance between a user-pays approach and ratepayer subsidies.
‘‘It’s up to the community to tell us whether they prefer to move closer to userpays or continue funding this through rates,’’ she said.
Submissions on the proposed fees close at 5pm on Friday, April 24, and can be made at selected council facilities, including Splash Palace, Te Hīnaki Civic Building, the Bluff Service Centre and Invercargill Public Library.
