Mosgiel school pupils may end up practising their backstroke in waist-deep water next summer if the Mosgiel Pool does not reopen next season.
The pool is due to close on April 9 for the winter months, and at this stage there are no plans to reopen it before construction of the new $15million pool is completed in late 2022.
Silverstream School principal Greg Hurley said it raised questions about how Mosgiel schools were supposed to provide swimming lessons.
"We do our swimming lessons in the fourth term [October-December] and over half of our pupils go to the Mosgiel pool.
"Going to Moana Pool in the city is just not an option for us. It’s too pricey.
"Swimming for schools is a massive challenge. We have to find between $12,000 and $15,000 for pool entry fees and buses to do it locally.
"We struggle to pay for it. We have to go and get grants just to make it feasible now.
"It would cost a significant amount more to go to Moana Pool."
He believed swimming lessons were extremely important because they saved lives.
"We want kids to know how to get their heads out of water, get out of danger and be able to get to a bank."
He said he had contacted Taieri College to see if his pupils could do swimming lessons in its pool, but the college’s busy aquatic programme did not have space.
He had also investigated using the Mosgiel West Pool, but it was very shallow and not suitable for senior pupils.
"We’re watching this space. There will be a bit of a public outcry about this."
Elmgrove School principal Chris McKinlay is also concerned about the loss of the facility.
"We have the Mosgiel West Pool directly across the road from us and that’s where our juniors do their swimming lessons now.
"But it’s our senior pupils who go out to the Mosgiel Pool that will be affected."
He said if the pool did not reopen, the school would have to raise more money and send them to Moana Pool.
"It would be very inconvenient, but we would ensure that our children still did swimming.
"Maybe we could talk to the council and ask if they will assist us with this increased expense," Mr McKinlay said.
Dunedin City Council parks and recreation acting group manager Scott MacLean said demolishing Mosgiel’s old swimming pool would ensure the community got access to a much better facility as soon as possible.
"The plan to demolish the old Mosgiel swimming pool following the conclusion of the current 2020-21 swimming season was announced in December and means this season will be the last for the ageing facility.
"We acknowledge there will be some inconvenience for the community, and staff are exploring options for schools in the area for the 2021-22 season."
He said demolition of the old pool would help speed up construction of Mosgiel’s new facility, meaning the community would get to enjoy the benefits of a bigger, better, year-round swimming pool sooner than would otherwise be the case.
It would also help manage health and safety risks associated with the continued use of the old pool during construction of the new facility.
"We regret this will cause inconvenience for some and we will do our best to minimise this while delivering a new facility the community can be proud of."
