Strategy Aquatic Network 2012 - 2022 - Tauranga City Council

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Strategy Aquatic Network 2012 - 2022 - Tauranga City Council
Aquatic Network
                                    Strategy
                                    2 0 1 2   –   2 0 2 2

Tauranga Moana Our Place
      Tauranga Tangata Our People
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Contents
Introduction ........................................................................................... 2
The Vision ............................................................................................. 3
The Principles ....................................................................................... 3
Strategic Fit........................................................................................... 4
Where are we now ................................................................................ 5
Key Challenges................................................................................... 11
Goals................................................................................................... 13
Implementation Plan ........................................................................... 13
Monitoring and Review ....................................................................... 19
Appendix 1: Strategy Development Process ...................................... 21
Appendix 2: What the community has told us ..................................... 22
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                                                          •                                                       Community and Stakeholder
    Introduction                                              A vision and principles for the provision and
                                                              use of Council owned aquatic facilities in          Engagement
    Why we need a new Strategy?                               Tauranga
                                                                                                                  Given the unique nature of aquatics and the
    Aquatic facilities are unique community assets        •   An understanding of the unique characteristics      diverse range of stakeholders were engaged with
    that provide significant health, fitness and social       of aquatic facilities and use and the               stakeholders very early in the review process.
    benefits to Tauranga’s population. The 2001               challenges these present                            During September 2010 two surveys were
    Aquatic Strategy was developed to guide the                                                                   conducted - one to gauge the general public’s
                                                          •   A clear plan for the aquatics network - this will
    provision of swimming pool facilities in Tauranga.                                                            response and one targeting users of the aquatic
                                                              enable Tauranga City Council to prioritise the
    The development of Baywave TECT Aquatic and                                                                   network. A High User Groups Forum1 was also
                                                              allocation of resources to best meet the
    Leisure Centre was one of the key actions of the                                                              held to gain input from these groups. This
                                                              community’s needs.
    Strategy.                                                                                                     information fed into a Discussion Document which
                                                          The 2012-2022 Aquatics Network Strategy will            was released for consultation in March 2011.
    Reviewing the 2001 Aquatic Strategy has                                                                       Feedback on the draft Strategy was received via
                                                          help guide Tauranga City Aquatics Limited in
    provided an opportunity to reflect on the existing                                                            the 2012 Ten Year Plan public submission
                                                          managing the aquatic network. The operational
    vision and objectives and to assess the                                                                       process.
                                                          management structure of the Aquatic Network is
    community’s aquatics needs over the next ten
                                                          set and is not considered through the Strategy -
    years and to explore how these can be best met
                                                          the focus is on the provision and use of aquatic
    given the current budget constraints. The review
                                                          facilities.
    process involved extensive consultation with key
    stakeholders and users, assessment of the             A Joint Initiative
    current aquatics network, research on aquatic
                                                          Tauranga’s aquatic network is owned and
    participation trends and population projections and
                                                          operated by Tauranga City Aquatics Limited
    consideration of Council’s budget constraints.
                                                          (TCAL). Accordingly the development of the
    Together this information has resulted in the 2012-
                                                          Strategy has been a joint initiative between TCAL
    2022 Aquatic Networks Strategy. The Strategy
                                                          and TCC.
    provides:
                                                                                                                  1
                                                                                                                   Tauranga City Council Aquatic High User Groups
                                                                                                                  Forum held 29th September 2010, Sport Bay of Plenty
                                                                                                                  offices.
3

                                                                                                                       sustainable manner2. The priority is
The Vision                                             The Principles                                                  maximising what we currently have.
‘Active in the Pool for life… healthy,                 The following principles underpin the Aquatic
                                                                                                                6.     Well maintained and fit-for-purpose: The
physically active communities’                         Network Strategy. Our aquatics network will
                                                                                                                       aquatics network will include well maintained
                                                       provide:
The aquatics network contributes to developing                                                                         and fit-for-purpose swimming pools relevant
and supporting physically active and healthy           1.   Health and well being: Participation in                    to the community’s needs.
communities. Water safety education is promoted             aquatic activities has major benefits to the
through the development of confidence and skills            physical and mental health of the individual
gained from both recreational play and learn to             and hence to the community as a whole.
swim programs.                                              Aquatic facilities promote social interaction
                                                            and act as a hub for community activities.
The essence of this vision is for Council to provide
aquatic facilities to the community because of the     2.   Participation: Promote high levels of
significant health and social benefits that come            participation in aquatic activity to ensure that
from being in the pool. The focus however is on             the benefits are enjoyed by as many people
meeting the needs of the diverse range and age of           as possible.
users and encouraging lifelong participation -
                                                       3.   Safety: The Aquatics network provides a
active in the pool for life. The age range of
                                                            safe environment to participate in aquatic
users’ spans from 6 months to 80+ years and the                                                                 2
                                                                                                                    In accordance with the Council’s Revenue and Finance
                                                            activities. All pools are certified Pool Safe and
vision reflects this. The vision also pursues the                                                               Policy this does not mean totally ‘financially independent’. The
                                                            meet New Zealand water quality standards.           principal beneficiaries of the Aquatic activity (and those
promotion of water safety and confidence.
                                                                                                                contributing to the need for the activity) are the users if
                                                       4.   Diversity: The aquatic opportunities
                                                                                                                Council’s aquatic facilities. Council recognizes that there is
                                                            available in the city recognise the diverse         also a wider public benefit provided by the activity by providing
                                                            preferences and needs in aquatics for               the opportunity for all people to be able to learn to swim.
                                                            Tauranga’s residents.
                                                                                                                •      The majority of operating expenditure will be funded
                                                       5.   Sustainability and efficiency: The                         through user fees and charges. The proportion is
                                                                                                                       expected to be 60% to 80% of total operating
                                                            community’s aquatic network will be operated               expenditure.
                                                            in an environmentally and financially               •      The balance of operating expenditure will be funded
                                                                                                                       through rates.
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    Strategic Fit                                         Let’s get Active: Tauranga’s Sport and Active
                                                          Living Strategy
                                                                                                               One of the key principles behind the ‘Let’s get
                                                                                                               Active’ strategy is that sport and living contribute
    The key drivers for the development of this           The vision of the Sport and Active Living Strategy   not only to the well being of individuals but create
    strategy are:                                         is to increase participation in sport and active     community cohesion and identity. The strategy is
                                                          living opportunities by getting “more people         founded on the belief that there are a number of
    Smart Growth                                                                                               benefits from participating in regular sport and
                                                          more active more often”.
    A growth management strategy to ensure that, as                                                            activity. These benefits are well known and
    the western Bay of Plenty grows it will continue to   All six goals of the strategy are relevant to the    include:
    be a great place to live, work and play.              Aquatic Network Strategy discussion:
                                                                                                               •   A range of health benefits such as reducing
    Smartspace Principles                                 Goal 1: A wide range of sporting activities and          the risk of heart disease and stroke risk,
                                                          opportunities available to all.                          helping combat osteoporosis, obesity and
    That built facility provision and location
    contributes to building and maintaining                                                                        diabetes.
                                                          Goal 2: Creating pathways to enable groups and
    sustainable communities and environments.             individuals to reach their potential (includes       •   Motor skills, social skills and intellectual
                                                          players, coaches, officials, administrators and          capabilities in children are all learnt through
    The provision of open space and leisure
                                                          volunteers).                                             recreation, sport and play.
    opportunities will enhance the western Bay of
    Plenty sense of identity and build on the unique      Goal 3: Participation in sport is recognised and     •   Physical activity and sport provide
    features of, and activities that occur within the     valued                                                   opportunities for adults to develop their full
    western Bay of Plenty.                                                                                         potential as well as providing opportunities
                                                          Goal 4: People are aware of sporting
                                                                                                                   for life long learning.
    Through the provision of open space and               opportunities available in our area.
    facilities, provide for a range of sporting and                                                            •   The self-esteem and positive self image that
    active living opportunities and that the built and    Goal 5: Our programmes and events motivate
                                                                                                                   result from active living and participating in
    open space environment encourages and                 and educate people on the value of being active,         sport.
    motivates people to be active.                        and encourage participation.

                                                          Goal 6: Our environment (built and open space)
                                                          encourages and motivates people to be active in
                                                          their daily lives.
5

Where are we now                                     its unique sit and soak nature also services the
                                                     city and wider sub region. Greerton and Memorial
                                                                                                           is carried out the facility is expected to operate
                                                                                                           satisfactory for at least the next 10 years. The
Our current Aquatics Network                         Pool are local pools in Tauranga central while        changing rooms and toilets are currently being
                                                     Otumoetai pool is the local pool for Tauranga         refurbishment.
The aquatic network is owned and managed by a
                                                     West (Bethlehem, Otumoetai and Matua).
Council Controlled Organisation (CCO) -                                                                    Under existing contracts Otumoetai Swimming
Tauranga City Aquatics Limited (TCAL). TCAL          Memorial Pool is the oldest facility in the network   Club and Otumoetai College have access to the
have ownership of all facilities and make all the    - it opened in 1958. It is an open air pool and is    pool. The swimming club has year round use
day to day operating decisions affecting the         only opened during the summer season. The             from 6am to 8am and 3.30pm to 8.30pm Monday
network based on an agreed annual Statement of       pool is used by the Tauranga Swimming Club            to Friday. Otumoetai College uses the pool
Intent approved by Tauranga City Council (TCC).      and flipper ball is also played at the pool.          during school hours from 9am until 3pm. Both
TCC retains ownership of the aquatics facilities’                                                          groups are allowed five of the seven lanes during
land and makes funding decisions through the         Otumoetai Pool is the second oldest pool in the
                                                                                                           these times and the two remaining lanes are
Ten Year Plan and Annual Plan processes and          network - opening in 1968. In 2003 it was
                                                                                                           available for general public use.
receives monitoring reports from TCAL.               covered by a membrane structure to allow for all
                                                     year use. An asset condition survey carried out
The aquatics network is currently made up of five    on Otumoetai facility in February 2011 reports
facilities:                                          that the facility - with the exception of the
                                                     changing rooms - is in an acceptable condition
•   Baywave TECT Aquatic and Leisure Centre
                                                     considering the age of the facility. After the
•   Greerton Aquatic and Leisure Centre              recommended pool repair and maintenance work

•   Memorial Pool

•   Mount Hot Pools

•   Otumoetai Pool.

Baywave is the newest facility in the network - it
opened in 2005. The other facilities are between
30 and 40 years old. Baywave is the central sub
regional facility. The Mount Hot Pools because of
6

    Tauranga City Council’s Network
7

Table one below provides a summary description of the pools at each facility. The Greerton and Baywave facilities have a number of other features such as spas,
meeting rooms and health clubs.

Table One: TCAL Swimming Pools - Summary Description
Facility                                           Indoor Pools                                                       Outdoor Pools

                           15m           18m          25m         25m Leisure   Toddler        14m           25m       22.7m Active   22.7m Passive   Toddler

Baywave                     9                          9              9            9
Greerton                    9             9            9
Memorial                                                                                        9             9
Otumoetai                   9                          9
Mount Hot Pools                                                                                                             9              9             9
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    The aquatics network is currently funded             Reviewing the 2001 Aquatics Strategy              To increase accessibility of flat water space
    primarily by user charges with 70 per cent of        Objectives                                        The single biggest contribution to increasing flat
    required funding coming from user charges and                                                          water space was the development of Baywave.
                                                         In developing goals for the 2012-2022 Strategy
    30 per cent from rates funding. User charges                                                           User visitors to Baywave make up almost half of
                                                         we reviewed the objectives from the 2001
    include the admission charges to the facilities,                                                       all total visits across the network - with Baywave
                                                         Aquatics Strategy. The 2001 objectives and a
    lane hire charges, and charges for other services                                                      having around 400,000 user visits each year. The
                                                         brief statement on each follow:
    offered at the facilities - such as use of a spa,                                                      majority of Bayswim’s learn to swim classes are
    gym membership and learn to swim lessons. Part       To increase the range of water based sport        also held at Baywave. There are currently 1,500
    of TCAL’s over riding directive from Council is to   through establishing multi - use facilities       students enrolled at Bayswim and around 1,000
    continue to reduce the funding contribution          The opening of Baywave TECT aquatic and           of these have their lessons at Baywave.
    required from rates.                                 leisure centre in 2005 has provided additional    However, due to the growth in both population
    Swim squads and other water sport users - in         space for water based sport. The following list   and aquatic use we are now at the point where
    addition to their entry fees also pay a lane hire    represents the range of water based sport now     access to water space at peak times is again
    fee for the exclusive use of lane space. However,    taking place in the aquatic facilities:           under pressure.
    two lanes are kept available for public              •   Aqua fit classes                              To increase aquatic leisure use
    recreational swimmers.
                                                         •   Canoe clubs                                   Over the past seven years total visits to the
    The Mount Hot Pools: An update                                                                         networks’ aquatics and leisure facilities have
                                                         •   Events                                        increased by almost 100 per cent - from 438,958
    The redevelopment of the Mount Hot Pools was
    approved by Council in January 2009. However,        •   Triathlon training                            visits per annum in 2002/03 to 867,078 visits in
                                                                                                           the 2009/10 year.
    in March 2011 the independent commissioner           •   Flipper ball
    refused the land use consent application for the
    project. At this stage no redevelopment is           •   Swimming club uses
    planned but the Council and TCAL will continue       •   Learn to swim
    to look for ways to maximise the value of the Hot
    Pools for users and the wider aquatics network.      •   Surf life saving training

                                                         •   Water Polo

                                                         •   Synchronised Swimming
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To ensure equity of access                             To consider the establishment of associated         asked people if they thought Council should
Equity of access is about making pools                 activities such as a gym, health and fitness        remain involved in the provision of an aquatics
accessible to as many as possible in our               centre and crèches                                  network and if so what type of facilities should be
community. This includes issues of accessibility       Both Baywave and Greerton Pools have health         provided. Of the 379 people that responded to
for those with physical or other disabilities. Many    clubs. Baywave also has a crèche facility.          the question on whether Council should continue
people with disabilities use the aquatics network.                                                         to provide the city’s pools 334 (88 per cent) felt
                                                       To consider synergies with commercial               the Council had a role to play. The message was
Baywave has sloped entry into the wave pool for
                                                       centres, other recreational uses                    that swimming pools are very important and that
ease of access for people with physical
disabilities.                                          These synergies with commercial centres and         Council should be involved in the provision of
                                                       other recreational uses were considered during      pools.
Another dimension of equity of access is how far       the development of Baywave resulting in
away people live from a pool. Due to the number                                                               ‘Absolutely they are a vital fitness source for
                                                       Baywave being located along side Grenada Park
of pools in the network and their geographically                                                              the general public to use’
                                                       and Bayfair shopping complex.
diverse locations - the majority of the population                                                            ‘They are as important as sports halls and
live within ten kilometres of a pool. However,         To raise aquatic standards to an international
                                                                                                              grounds and libraries’
there are some pockets of new growth areas that        level
are further away from a community pool.                All of the pools in the community network have         ‘Yes most definitely - the health and wellbeing
                                                       Pool Safe status. The ACC Pool Safe Quality            of community members is essential for a
TCAL offer a range of discounts to various user                                                               happy functioning community’
                                                       Management Scheme is an independent
groups including discounted entry and
                                                       assessment of a pool’s management and               The feedback indicates that there is a firm desire
membership fees to seniors and students.
                                                       operation in accordance with established industry   for Council to continue to provide an aquatics
Disabled users are also eligible to receive free
                                                       standards.                                          network. Tauranga City Council plays an
entry into the pools.
                                                       Council’s role in providing Aquatic                 important role in contributing towards the health
To establish a network of community pools                                                                  and wellbeing of its residents through a vast
                                                       Services
This objective directly relates to the objective ‘To                                                       range of sporting and recreation opportunities.
increase accessibility of flat water space’. The       A fundamental starting question for the Aquatics    Aquatic facilities provide the community with a
key change over the past nine years has been           Strategy was to re examine the Council’s role in    healthy, low impact and socially interactive
the development of Baywave.                            the provision of aquatic facilities. In the         recreation activity.
                                                       discussion document - released in March - we
10

     The City of Sydney Aquatic Facilities                  Table Two: Core Activities occurring
     Development Strategy 2005 reports that the             at Aquatic Facilities
     benefits of participating in aquatic activities are    Activities               Definition
     wide-ranging and include a number of                   Free Play                Unstructured water fun
     psychological outcomes - such as feelings of                                    and play.
     achievement and well-being as well as the              Interactive Water Play   Water play that requires
     benefits of challenge, risk, excitement, rest,                                  special interactive water
                                                                                     features and equipment -
     improved health, contemplation and family
                                                                                     wave pools, hydroslides,
     togetherness. It reports that the benefits of                                   interactive toys.
     recreation have been found to be greater from          Learn to Swim            Learn-to-swim
     aquatics than for many other recreation pursuits.                               programmes, developing
     This is because aquatics can be pursued:                                        water confidence and
                                                                                     safety.
     •   by people of every age                             Recreational Fitness     Fitness activities such as
                                                                                     lane swimming, aqua-
     •   by people at every level of ability                                         aerobics, aqua-jogging,
                                                                                     aqua-walking and possibly
     •   alone, in formal and informal groups or in                                  dry fitness programmes
         teams                                                                       and a fitness centre.
                                                            Squad and Sports         Training for competitive
     •   at all times of the day, week and year if          Training                 swimming and other water
         appropriate facilities are available.                                       sports.
                                                            Sports Events            Competitions and events
     Aquatic facilities are unique community assets
                                                                                     for swimming, water polo,
     which contribute towards benefits for a large                                   flipper ball and
     spectrum of the community. The age range of                                     synchronised swimming.
     users of aquatic facilities is very diverse, ranging   Water Therapy            Use of spas, saunas and
     from 6 months to 80+ years. The type of activities                              steam rooms for
                                                                                     therapeutic benefits.
     undertaken across the network is also varied.
                                                                                     Undertaking exercises in
     The core aquatic activities occurring across the                                water for water-based
     network of pools are listed in the table below.                                 rehabilitation.
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                                                                                                                Facilities Strategy for Swimming New Zealand5
Key Challenges                                           popularity. The emergence of junior sports like
                                                         flipper ball is likely to fuel the growth in other     highlights some of these key trends in aquatics
Aquatic activities are extremely popular.                water sports such as water polo and swimming.          facilities.
Swimming is ranked the third most popular sport
                                                         Tauranga’s Growing Population                          •      The emerging drive from health authorities
and recreation activity for adults surpassed only
                                                                                                                       for increased physical activity is increasing
by walking and gardening in the Active New               Tauranga’s population is projected to grow by 15
                                                                                                                       demand for aquatic facilities. Aquatic facilities
Zealand Survey3. Over 12 months, 34.7 per cent           per cent over the next ten years. With an extra
                                                                                                                       are an important part of the infrastructure
of New Zealand adults participated in swimming           20,000 people estimated to live in the city in 2022
                                                                                                                       contributing to health and well being
at least once. Among these adults, the most              demand for aquatic services will also increase.
                                                                                                                       outcomes.
common locations for swimming were ‘indoors at           Looking beyond the next ten years the population
a sports facility’.                                      is projected to grow by a further 27,500 by 2031.      •      Significant growth in demand from the older
                                                         Therefore in twenty years the aquatics network                adult market because water provides low
The most recent pool participation survey of             will be servicing another 47,500 people.                      impact physical activity options. This
Tauranga City’s Pools4 reports that just over half
                                                                                                                       increased demand is requiring a change in
of all those surveyed used a Council pool within         It is also important to look at the changing age
                                                                                                                       the mix of facilities and services offered by
the last year. Of those that had not visited a pool      profile of the future population. The population
                                                                                                                       aquatic facilities to meet the needs of older
the key reasons for not doing so were that they          over 65 is projected to increase by around
                                                                                                                       adults (i.e. indoor pool space with warmer
were too busy and not interested. The most               10,000 over the next ten years. A further
                                                                                                                       water and changing rooms).
popular pools to visit were Baywave and the Hot          increase of almost 15,000 is expected by 2031.
Pools.                                                   The ageing population signifies a likely increased     •      The growing use by people with special
                                                         demand for water therapy, physical fitness, injury            needs which means facilities need
The growth in aquatic activities is likely to            rehabilitation and opportunities to socialise and             appropriate amenities to accommodate them
continue as water sports continue to increase in         interact at aquatic facilities.                               (i.e. ramped access and hoist access to
                                                                                                                       pools).
                                                         Changing demand for Aquatics
3
    SPARC Sport and Recreation New Zealand, Sport and    Facilities
Recreation Profile: Swimming Findings from the 2007/08
Active New Zealand Survey.                               In planning for Tauranga’s Aquatics network it is
4
    Tauranga City Council Aquatics Survey 2008 by Key    essential to consider the various factors              5
                                                                                                                    National Facilities Strategy for Swimming New Zealand,
Research                                                 impacting on aquatic facilities. The latest National   consultation draft prepared by David Allen and James
                                                                                                                Parkinson for SNZ Project Working Party January 2011.
12

     •   Increasing expectations of users regarding             generate sustainable levels of patronage for       Making our Pools Accessible
         level of service, quality of facility and              retail activities such as a café.
                                                                                                                   The consultation process highlighted the
         experiences when travelling away from their
                                                            •   An increasingly common feature is the              importance and desire for accessibility.
         community or by new residents seeking
                                                                provision of ‘dry’ exercise gym facilities both    Accessibility is a multi dimensional concept. It
         similar experiences as available in their
                                                                in new centres and in the retrofitting of          includes:
         previous community
                                                                existing aquatic facilities. This is in response
                                                                                                                   •   Physical access - having a pool close to
     •   A general decline in available lap pool time           to the demand for cross training opportunities
                                                                                                                       home and being able to physically enter the
         for casual use in aquatic facilities and an            within the single facility and their positive
                                                                                                                       pool regardless of age or disability.
         increase in programmed use of pools for a              cash flow.
         range of activities. These include learn to                                                               •   Visible access - people knowing where the
                                                            •   New aquatics facilities are being linked to
         swim, swim-squads, water polo, and triathlon                                                                  pools are and how to access them.
                                                                other facilities i.e. libraries, parks and or
         and surf life saving training.
                                                                shopping centres.                                  •   Affordability - ensuring that the cost of using
     •   High performance athletes are seeking the                                                                     the pool is not prohibitive to the wider
                                                            •   The Ministry of Education no longer fund
         highest available quality of facilities.                                                                      community.
                                                                maintenance of existing school pools and do
     •   Move away from the traditional outdoor                 not generally fund new pools or replace            •   Information access - knowing who to contact,
         rectangular swimming pools, which were                 those that are no longer usable. So there has          where to go to get information and how to
         developed throughout the 50’s, 60’s and                been a degree of rationalization of school             use it.
         70’s, with more emphasis being given to                pools which has increased demand for other
                                                                                                                   While the feedback from users touched on all
         meeting a wider range of aquatic                       aquatic facilities.
                                                                                                                   these aspects of accessibility the majority of
         participation opportunities by providing
                                                            •   There is a growing awareness of risk               feedback received related to physical
         different bodies of water within one venue.
                                                                management and ‘whole of life’ approach to         accessibility and affordability. Aquatic activities
     •   Creation of large complexes with several               facility development and asset management.         are of profound value to people with disabilities,
         sport and recreation activity facilities ( often                                                          those undertaking rehabilitation programs to
         both ‘wet’ and ‘dry’) sharing a common entry,                                                             overcome injuries caused by accidents and other
         reception and ancillary facilities to provide a                                                           sports, and people suffering from asthma and
         high level of service, economies from sharing                                                             arthritis. There is a need for the Aquatics
         services, and sufficient critical mass to                                                                 Strategy to address issues of accessibility.
13

Improving the network for today and
the future
                                                      Goals                                                  actions to be undertaken to achieve this over the
                                                                                                             next ten years.
The feedback received in response to the              The 2001 Aquatic Strategy objectives have been
                                                                                                             The costs associated with each of the proposed
discussion document identified many concerns          refined to put together a new set of goals. These
                                                                                                             actions are indicative only and may need to be
that the current network was not meeting the          revised goals reflect the aquatics requirements of
                                                                                                             revised as more detailed information becomes
demands of the community and various user             the community over the next ten years.
                                                                                                             available. Indicative costings are needed to
groups. Many of the existing facilities do not        1.   The network of well maintained aquatic            ensure that some level of budgeting can be
reflect contemporary design elements and                   facilities across the city provides for a range   included in the ten year plan.
community needs due to their age or original               of water based activities.
design limitations. Many of the comments also                                                                Many of the proposed actions involve the
reflect dissatisfaction with the allocation of pool   2.   Our network of aquatic facilities encourages      development of options to improve the aquatics
space and the configuration of the network.                and motivates people to be active in the          network. This process of developing options will
                                                           pool at every stage of their lives.               provide more detailed information on the
Aquatic facilities are expensive to build and                                                                implementation costs associated with different
operate. There is a clear conflict between the        3.   Aquatic facilities are accessible to all people
                                                                                                             options. When more information on the cost and
directive of the aquatics network to reduce its            regardless of their physical ability, age,        benefits have been assessed - decisions can
need for rates funding and the requirement to              ethnicity and physical location where             then be made on whether to pursue the
provide a community resource. It is beyond the             practicable.
                                                                                                             implementation of the options.
scope of this review to examine the mandate of
                                                      4.   The aquatics network will be operated in a
TCAL however these issues are currently being
                                                           safe, environmentally and financially
explored in the CCO Review.
                                                           sustainable and efficient way.
The challenge for Council is providing a network
and access for as many as is possible of the          Implementation Plan
diverse users and activities within affordability
                                                      The vision, goals and principles for the 2012-
constraints for both users and ratepayers.
                                                      2022 Aquatics Strategy tell us where we want to
                                                      be with the management and use of our aquatics
                                                      network. The following section outlines proposed
14

     Goal 1:      The network of aquatic facilities across the city provides for a range of water based activities
     What will we do?                                    Why will we do it?                Who will do it?            What will it cost?                 When will it happen?

     1.1.   TCAL (and/or successor) will continue to     To enhance communication          TCAL (and / or successor) Within TCAL’s operations budget.    On going
            ensure that regular aquatic user group       with user groups so as to         and Sport Bay of Plenty   Under existing relationship
            forums are conducted. These will be held     continue to develop efficient                               agreement between TCC and
            in conjunction with Sport Bay of Plenty      and transparent lane allocation                             Sport Bay of Plenty.
            as is consistent with all other sports and   processes.
            recreation facilities.

     1.2.   Investigate the location and potential       To provide additional             TCAL (and / or successor) Within existing resources (TCAL     2013 - 2014
            partnerships with existing non Council       community aquatic capacity at     and TCC                   and TCC staff time) to carry out
            owned swimming pools. The                    locations where required by                                 investigation however
            investigation will consider the needs of     maximising existing facilities.                             implementation of potential
            the future population, the current                                                                       partnerships will incur costs.
            provision of swimming pools in the area
            and access required.

     1.3.   Investigate a fully retractable roofing      To increase capacity of the       TCAL (and / or successor) Within existing resources (TCAL     Investigation to begin
            system for the Memorial Pool facility.       current network. A retractable                              staff time) to carry out            in 2013 and
                                                         structure could retain the open                             investigation. The implementation   implementation to
                                                         air aspect during the summer                                costs of such a structure are       occur in 2016
                                                         months but also allow for year                              estimated at $1,000,000.
                                                         round use.

     1.4.   Investigate and develop concept plans for    To consider options for           TCC and TCAL (and / or     Within existing resources - TCC    Over the 2016 - 2020
            expanding flat water space at Baywave -      increasing flat water space of    successor)                 and TCAL staff time to carry out   period
            Consideration of an additional 25m           the network to cater for future                              investigation. Implementation
            space.                                       demand.                                                      initial estimate $2,700,000.

     1.5.   Investigate and develop options for          To increase opportunities for     TCC and TCAL (and / or     Within existing resources - TCC    Over the 2016 - 2020
            enhancing the water play area at             children’s water play in          successor)                 and TCAL staff time to carry out   period
            Baywave.                                     Tauranga.                                                    investigation. Implementation
                                                                                                                      estimated to be $300,000.
15

Goal 2:       Our network of aquatic facilities encourages and motivates people to be active in the pool at every stage of their lives
What will we do?                                        Why will we do it?                   Who will do it?            What will it cost?                    When will it happen?

2.1.   Work with Tourism Bay of Plenty and              To promote awareness of the          TCAL (and / or successor) Within existing resources - TCAL       2012 - 2013 and then
       Sport Bay of Plenty to promote aquatic           network to both the local                                      staff time.                            on going
       facilities.                                      community and visitors to the
                                                        region.

2.2.   Investigate possible partnerships for a          To encourage people to visit         TCAL (and / or successor) The investigation would be within      2016
       specialist rehabilitation facility at Greerton   Greerton pool for rehabilitation     and TCC                   existing resources - TCAL and
       - as part of the 2012-13 Disability Strategy.    and exercise purposes by                                       TCC Staff time. However the
       This investigation would also look at            providing a ‘flat floor dry’ space                             design and implementation will
       incorporating a community meeting room           for activities alongside the pool.                             involve additional costs estimated
       in any development at Greerton pool.             The current Health Club is not                                 at $120,000.
                                                        accessible by anyone with
                                                        mobility issues.

2.3.   Investigate opportunities to improve usage at Memorial Pool including;

2.3.1 Investigate integrating Memorial Pool into        To increase participation in         TCC and TCAL (and / or     Existing resources to investigate -   2015 - 2020
      Memorial Park.                                    aquatics and utilise the             successor)                 TCC and TCAL staff time.
      This would be done in conjunction with the        synergies of the park and                                       Implementation cost estimated at
      park’s Management Plan action:                    location.                                                       $50,000.
      ‘Enhance and formalise entrance to
      Swimming Pool to a more central point within
      the facility that connects the pedestrian focus
      of the park with the pool complex’.

2.3.2 Develop options for a water play area and         To increase the opportunities        TCC and TCAL (and / or     Existing resources to investigate -   2016 - 2018
      spa pools at Memorial Pool. This would also       for children’s water play in         successor)                 TCC and TCAL staff time. Design
      be linked to actions in the Management Plan.      Tauranga and to develop the                                     and Implementation cost estimated
                                                        features of Memorial Park.                                      at $700,000.
16

     What will we do?                                   Why will we do it?                 Who will do it?           What will it cost?                   When will it happen?

     2.3.3 Provide some signage visible from Memorial   To ensure the community is         TCAL (and / or successor) $5,000                               2013 - 2014
           Pool to increase the community’s awareness   aware of Memorial Pool and to      and TCC
           of Memorial Pool. This would be undertaken   encourage use of the facility.
           as part of a wider signage project for
           Memorial Park

     2.3.4 Provide appropriate sun shade and shelter    To ensure adequate sun             TCAL (and/or successor)   $20,000                              2013 - 2015
           features at Memorial Pool.                   protection is provided at
                                                        Memorial pool.

     Goal 3:      Aquatic facilities are accessible to all people regardless of their physical ability, age, ethnicity and physical location.
     What will we do?                                   Why will we do it?                 Who will do it?           What will it cost?                   When will it happen?

     3.1.   Undertake a disability access audit         To determine current levels of     TCC                       $4000 - $6000 for the audit. There   2012- 2013
            across all pools in the network.            compliance and for physical                                  will be implementation costs
                                                        access and endeavour to                                      involved with providing better
                                                        exceed the basic legal                                       accessibility, if required.
                                                        requirements ahead of the
                                                        Council’s Disability Strategy to
                                                        be carried out in 2012/13.

     3.2.   Undertake marketing initiatives to          To increase the community’s        TCAL (and / or            Within existing resources - TCAL’s   2012
            increase the community’s awareness of       awareness of the physical          successor) and TCC        operational budget and TCC’s
            the physical accessibility features of      accessibility features of                                    communication budget.
            Greerton Pool.                              Greerton Pool to encourage
                                                        greater participation of people
                                                        with disabilities.

     3.3.   Design and construct a moveable floor in    To improve physical                TCAL (and / or            Total Cost $600 000 - some          2013
            the learn to swim pool at Baywave.          accessibility at Baywave Pool.     successor)                funding may be accessed from
                                                                                                                     other sources such as the Lotteries
                                                                                                                     Community Facilities Fund.
17

What will we do?                                     Why will we do it?                 Who will do it?   What will it cost?                 When will it happen?

3.4.   Continue to monitor any particular       To determine what actions are           TCAL (and / or    Within existing resources - TCAL   On going
       cultural requirements for using swimming required to make the network            successor)        operations budget.
       pools.                                   more accessible to people of all
                                                ethnicities.

3.5.   Expand the parking requirements at the        To increase the accessibility of   TCC               Greerton Pool/ Morland Fox park:   2012 - 2019
       Greerton and Otumoetai facilities. These      the Greerton and Otumoetai                           No additional cost to Council as
       actions are included as part of existing      facilities.                                          already included in the open space
       Reserve Management Plan Projects of                                                                capital programme for Morland Fox
       Morland Fox Park and Bellevue Park.                                                                Park (due to commence in 2017).
                                                                                                          Bellevue Park:
                                                                                                          Work will be undertaken in 2011/12
                                                                                                          to increase the amount of gravel
                                                                                                          car parking area available at
                                                                                                          Bellevue Park.

Goal 4:      The aquatics network will be operated in a safe, sustainable and efficient way.
What will we do?                                     Why will we do it?                 Who will do it?   What will it cost?                 When will it happen?

4.1.   Continue to ensure that all pools in the      To ensure the aquatics network     TCAL (and / or    Within existing resources- TCAL    On going
       network comply with the current water         is safe for the community.         successor)        operating budget.
       quality systems and standards.

4.2.   To incorporate all pools in the network       To ensure the network operates     TCAL (and / or    Within existing resources -TCAL    On going
       into the sustainable business network.        in a sustainable manner.           successor)        operating budget.

4.3.   To continue to ensure that all pools in the   To manage the risk of accident     TCAL (and / or    Within existing resources- TCAL    On going
       network have Pool Safe status.                and provide a safe aquatics        successor)        operating budget.
                                                     network.
18

     What will we do?                                     Why will we do it?               Who will do it?      What will it cost?                  When will it happen?

     4.4.   Indentify what other user groups could        In accordance with TCAL’s        TCAL (and / or       Within existing resources- TCAL     2012 and on going
            use the off peak time in the network – i.e.   Statement of Intent ensure the   successor)           operating budget.
            hospitals, special needs groups.              existing network is maximised
                                                          by the community.

     4.5.   Investigate the costs and benefits and if     To capture any cost savings by   TCAL (and / or       The investigation can be carried    2014
            appropriate provide a cover for Memorial      preventing heat loss when the    successor)           out within existing resources.
            Pool.                                         pools are not in use.                                 However at this stage
                                                                                                                implementation is estimated to be
                                                                                                                $20,000.

     4.6.   Explore two ownership options for             To investigate ways of           TCAL (and / or       Within existing resources.          2012 -2013
            Otumoetai pool, the first being retention     maintaining access and           successor) and TCC
            by Council and the second being vesting       reducing rate payer costs
            to the Otumoetai Swimming Club.               associated with operating
                                                          Otumoetai Pool.
19

Monitoring and Review
Progress made in achieving the Strategy’s goals and working towards the vision will be measured against the following targets. These measures will be assessed on
a three yearly basis - linking into the ten year plan process. This assessment will also indicate when a full review of the Strategy is required. A full review of the
strategy is intended to be undertaken every 5 years following adoption - or when the need arises.

Goal                                           Measures                                           What this measure tells us                     Methods

The network of well maintained aquatic         •   Percentage of users who rate the aquatics If we are providing an appropriate - well           Annual Residents Survey.
facilities across the city provides for a          facilities as either good or excellent.   maintained - level of service across the            Centre for Education and Recreation
range of water based activities.               •   Customer satisfaction rating -from        aquatics net work.                                  Management (CERM) monitor customer
                                                   customer satisfaction surveys.                                                                satisfaction and business performance.
                                               •   Number and range of water based                                                               TCAL booking schedules.
                                                   activities taking place at the pools.
                                                                                                                                                 Narrative.

Our network of aquatic facilities              •   Level of awareness of the pools in the         This provides information on whether           Annual Residents Survey.
encourages and motivates people to be              aquatics network.                              people are aware of the aquatics               TCAL visitor data base.
active in the pool at every stage of their     •   Number of visits to the aquatics network.      facilities and services they provide. It
                                                                                                                                                 TCAL monitoring of booking schedule.
lives.                                         •   Frequency of visits to the aquatics            also tells us how often people are
                                                   network.                                       making use of the pools.
                                               •   Participation rates for each activity taking
                                                   place at the pool.

Aquatic facilities are accessible to all       •   Number of visits to the aquatics network       Whether the aquatics network is                Annual Residents Survey.
people regardless of their physical ability,       by age, gender and ethnicity.                  accessible to as many people as                CERM Survey for TCAL.
age, ethnicity and physical location where     •   Percentage of people coming from each          practicable. Are people of all ages,
                                                                                                                                                 Disability Audit - linked into the Disability
practicable.                                       residential suburb.                            ethnicities, physical abilities and from all
                                                                                                                                                 Strategy.
                                               •   Number of pools in network able to be          over the city accessing the network.
                                                   accessed by people with physical                                                              Narrative.
                                                   disabilities.
20

     Goal                                         Measures                                       What this measure tells us               Methods

     The aquatics network will be operated in a   •   Number of accidents occurring across the   How safe our city’s pools are.           TCAL accident statistics.
     safe, sustainable and efficient way.             network.                                   How efficiently the aquatics network is     Pool Safe Assessments and reports.
                                                  •   Pool Safe accreditation achieved.          operating -is there a reduction in the rate Annual Reports and TCAL’s Statement of
                                                  •   Net operating cost of an aquatics visit.   payer funding contribution.                 Intent.
                                                  •   Percentage of funding coming from          Whether the aquatics network has            Resource use survey - TCAL.
                                                      general rates.                             achieved a reduction in the amount of
                                                                                                                                             Narrative report.
                                                  •   Rate payer funding per head of             resources in uses and waste it
                                                      population.                                generates.
                                                  •   Resource use data - energy use, water
                                                      use and waste generation.
                                                  •   Asset management plans are up-to-date.
21

Appendix 1: Strategy Development Process
Date                                                             Process

June 2010              Strategy and Policy Committee             Council approved the scope and approach of the Aquatics Strategy and identified key issues to be
                                                                 addressed.

July - October 2010    Project Team                              Stocktake and research of existing aquatics data and needs analysis.

                       Community Engagement                      General Consultation through City Views and forms at pools inviting feedback. High users forum.

December 2010 -        Project Team                              Analysis of public feedback to develop discussion document for public consultation.
February 2011

February 2011          Strategy and Policy Committee             Adoption of Discussion Document for Public Consultation.

March 2011             Community Engagement                      Discussion Document sent to high user groups. Consultation through CityViews, Weekend Sun,
                                                                 online document and survey.

April - June 2011      Project Team                              Developed proposed vision, principles, goals and actions based on community feedback and Council
                                                                 direction to date.

May 2011               Elected Members Workshop on Otumoetai     Discussion with Elected Members on potential future options for Otumoetai Pool.
                       Pool

June 20011             Strategy and Policy Committee             Endorsement of vision, principles, goals and actions for inclusion in the draft 2012-2022 Aquatics
                                                                 Strategy.

August 2011            Strategy and Policy Committee             Decision to delay the adoption of Draft Strategy for community feedback.

February 2012          Strategy and Policy Committee             Adoption of Draft Strategy for community feedback.

March - April 2012     Community Engagement - via the ten year   Community feedback on draft Aquatics Strategy 2012-2022.
                       plan process

28 May - 1 June 2012   Council                                   Submission Hearings and Deliberations.

26 June 2012           Council                                   Adoption of Aquatics Strategy 2012-2022.
22

     Appendix 2: What the                                 A few people noted that other facilities have a
                                                          lower user fee component.
     community has told us                                •   ‘The same split should apply over sporting
     Funding our Aquatics Network                             grounds, libraries and the museum’

     We asked people for their thoughts on the            •   ‘Other recreation resources get more general
     current funding split between user fees and rates        rates funding’
     for aquatics. The majority of respondents thought
                                                          •   ‘Other recreational sports have less cost to
     the current split of 70 per cent user fees and 30
                                                              users’
     per cent rates was reasonable. Others thought
     the split should be different - some thought a       Features important to have in pool
     greater proportion of user fees and others           facilities
     wanted more rates contribution. There was a          We wanted to know what features people thought
     general feeling that the funding ratio must ensure   were important to include in an aquatics facility.
     that swimming was affordable to the community.       Table three presents the features reported during
     •   ‘Pools must be an affordable facility for them   the feedback process.
         to be used. All people (especially children)
         should know how to swim. Keeping it low
         cost will    encourage swimming to become
         an everyday activity enhancing both greater
         safety and fitness (as it was before the
         computer age).’

     •   ‘Whatever it costs to keep aquatics services
         affordable in Tauranga’

     •   ‘Pools should be for everyone and not have
         high entrance fees so some cannot afford to
         use them’
23

Table Three: Responses on Important features of pool facilities
Pool features                   Amenities                          Accessibility                        Space Allocation                     Other features

25 metre pool                   Clean changing rooms and toilets   Wheelchair access                    More public lanes                    Discount days

50 metre pool                   Reliable warm showers              Ramps and sloped entry into pools    Space for learn to swim              Swim programs

Dive well                       Secure lockers                     Sufficient parking                   Space for play that does not impact Gym fitness facilities
                                                                                                        on lane swimmers

Water play area                 Adequate dry seating for           Reasonable entry fees                Sufficient lane space for
                                supervising adults                                                      community clubs

Different sized pools for all   Cafe                               Located on main routes for ease of
activities                                                         access

Hydro slide                     Shade in summer for open air
                                pools

Clean water                     Swim meet rooms

Supervised by qualified staff   Outdoor area - bbq area

Pools deeper than 2m for
underwater hockey

Spa pools
24

     Network Use Configuration                               •   ‘User groups are currently well catered for’     •   ‘Not needed yet but need to consider as the
                                                                                                                      city continues to grow’
     Users of the pools appear to be divided on              •   ‘Specific use would mean the specific groups
     whether the city needs more facilities that are set         may end up travelling long distances to get to   •   ‘Pools are very quiet when you place user
     aside for specific user groups. This may reflect            their facility’                                      numbers by opening hours’
     the competing demands for aquatic resources.
                                                             •   ‘Specialist sports are usually able to adapt a   •   ‘Existing pools need to be modernised first -
     Some of the reasons put forward for having some
                                                                 generic pool to their requirements with              level of service raised’.
     facilities in the network set aside for specific user
                                                                 movable goals, barriers etc’.
     groups included:                                                                                             While others believed there was a need for
                                                             Are additional Council Pools                         additional pools - particularly in some areas:
     •   ‘Tauranga is large enough now to have
                                                             required?
         specialised facilities’                                                                                  •   ‘Papamoa and Mount not as well catered for
                                                             When asked if there was a need for additional            as other areas - Papamoa needs a pool as
     •   ‘As long as the specific user groups are
                                                             Council pools in the network - respondents had a         the population continues to grow’
         willing to contribute more to fund specific use
                                                             variety of views. Some thought that further pools
         facilities’
                                                             were not required for the following reasons:         •   ‘Welcome Bay does not have a pool - there
                                                                                                                      is a need for a local pool’
     •   ‘It could reduce the crowding - some user
                                                             •   ‘Rates and debt are too high to think about
         groups take up lane space from the public’                                                               •   ‘A pool is needed in Bethlehem partnership
                                                                 building more’
                                                                                                                      with Bethlehem College is an option’
     •   ‘Payback to the community would come in
                                                             •   ‘We need to utilise what we have better’
         other ways by bringing people to the region                                                              •   ‘Baywave is the only new pool since back in
         for events’                                         •   ‘Tauranga has a substantial amount of pools          1970’s - population has exploded since then’
                                                                 but not the correct quality and dimensions’
     Reasons for multi purpose facilities instead of                                                              •   ‘Baywave met customer predictions very
     specific use facilities included:                       •   ‘Each facility should be fiscally responsible.       quickly, indicating that the need for pools is
                                                                 One facility should not subsidise another. If        not keeping up with the population and
     •   ‘It may be more difficult to make specific use
                                                                 a facility cannot support itself with 30 per         leisure needs’
         facilities profitable - and this may increase
                                                                 cent rate funding it is not wanted by the
         rates contribution’                                                                                      •   ‘Water play seems to be a lacking feature in
                                                                 locals’
                                                                                                                      Tauranga’.
     •   ‘Only a small number of people may be likely
         to use these facilities’
25

•   ‘Not enough room for all clubs/organisations         •   ‘There is a huge unmet demand from all of           It is important to note the capacity is only an
    to get quality time’                                     the aquatic sports’                                 issue at peak times - as many users recognise.
                                                                                                                 At peak times the demand for water sports
•   ‘Not enough learn to swim organisations              •   ‘Baywave is the only pool in the Mount to
                                                                                                                 training, public access, programmes and casual
    because of lack of space - resulting in a                provide lane swimming and so naturally there
                                                                                                                 water space is extremely difficult to balance,
    monopoly and rising learn to swim costs’                 is a big demand’
                                                                                                                 whereas at non-peak times there are large
•   ‘Willing to pay for higher level of service - e.g.   Much of the feedback highlights the difficulty of       amounts of water space not fully utilised.
    Baywave made to 50 meters which, using               allocating lane space between a wide range of
                                                                                                                 •   ‘The lane space is probably about right,
    dividers to make 2 X 25 metres would double          activities and users.
                                                                                                                     especially during the day, it is just ‘’peak”
    capacity’.
                                                         •   ‘The development of our club is being                   user times makes things difficult’
Baywave                                                      stymied by access to pool space’
                                                                                                                 •   ‘You have to manage your swim times
The fundamental issue that has emerged from              •   ‘Not enough lanes for the public due to                 around peak times i.e. lunch times’
our engagement with users on Baywave is                      squad training and other groups training. I
insufficient lane space during peak times. TCAL’s                                                                •   ‘There is quite often enough lane space if
                                                             understand they need to train somewhere
booking schedule provides further evidence of                                                                        you can choose to go between peak times’.
                                                             however.
the capacity issue during peak times in the lap                                                                  Greerton Pool
pool. Various user groups - squads, sports teams         •   ‘I would like to use the learn to swim pool for
                                                             my kids but it is always being used by the          At peak times lane space is reported as a key
and general public - are competing for lanes in
                                                             swim school. It is the only warm pool suitable      issue by users at Greerton Pool.
the lane pool at peak times.
                                                             for small kids
                                                                                                                 •   ‘I used to do aqua aerobics and found there
•   ‘The lap pool is packed, and many swim
    clubs are not able to take on more swimmers’         •   ‘Never enough (lane space) in the mornings              was not enough space for the people that
                                                             due to too many squads having apriority’                exercised and the swimmers in the lanes’
•   ‘There is no availability for the general public
                                                         •   ‘Understanding that the demand for squad            •   ‘Have been in numerous times to find it busy,
    to undertake lane swimming after work hours
                                                             use is high and provides a good return for the          so requested a refund on my entry’
    during the week, it is always dominated by
                                                             pool but as a ratepayer I find it very
    clubs etc’                                                                                                   •   ‘At peak times all lanes are heaving. Public
                                                             frustrating that I am unable to use this facility       lanes are almost unswimable due to large
•   ‘Extra space is urgently required’                       due to lack of lane space’.                             numbers - and we’re not doing the same
26

         training (so different strokes, speeds and rest   •   ‘You definitely need more parking. Mobility         Other issues that emerged from the feedback
         periods) you can’t squeeze as many in as              car parks in particular and maybe a bus             were:
         you can in squads’.                                   park’.
                                                                                                                   •   Insufficient shade during summer
     Again the problem is competing demands for the        Memorial Pool
                                                                                                                   •   Lack of seating and shelter
     pool space at peak times. This is clear by many       A large number of respondents value the open
     of the comments we received:                          air aspect of Memorial Pool.                            •   Water Temperature

     •   ‘The problem isn’t necessarily that there         •   ‘It is a beautiful place to swim because it is      •   Lack of community awareness of the pool.
         aren’t enough lanes - its more with swim              outdoors’                                           Otumoetai Pool
         lessons and squads taking up almost the
         entire complex after school’                      •   ‘I love how it is an open air pool. I always        The key message from the feedback was the
                                                               come out of the pool feeling fresh no               importance of Otumoetai Pool to the local
     •   ‘As it is such a popular school there are lots        tsmelling of chemicals. It is a fantastic spot      community. The reasons why the facility was
         of group of people who all seem to come in            and the open air swimming really feels like         valued included:
         about the same time. You either need more             summer’
         lanes, or maybe change some of the class                                                                  •   Its central location - close for local users. The
         times’                                            •   ‘I think it is nice to have an alternative to the       additional time and cost of travelling
                                                               beach in summer when you want to swim                   elsewhere would be prohibitive
     •   ‘Not enough (lane space) at squad times, or           outdoors, but not in salt water with waves’.
         times of aquarobics. School sports are a                                                                  •   It is affordable
         pain! I don’t want to swim there when the         Some users suggested a covered option for year
                                                                                                                   •   Memorial only operates during summer
         school sports are on!’                            round use.
                                                                                                                       months so Otumoetai becomes the pool for
     Parking was also reported to be difficult to          •   ‘What about a retractable cover which could             this area for winter lane swimmers
     access for some users.                                    offer the best of both, open in summer and
                                                                                                                   •   A large number of children have lessons
                                                               covered in winter and mean the pools could
     •   ‘What parking? When ever I have been there                                                                    there
                                                               stay open all year round’
         it is for a swim meet and you have to park                                                                •   It is essential for the learn to swim and squad
         miles away as there are very few parks.’          •   ‘It is lovely to use the outdoor pool but
                                                                                                                       training programme provided by Otumoetai
                                                               obviously with lane congestion everywhere it
                                                                                                                       Swimming Club
                                                               may be more sensible to cover it’.
27

•   A number of triathletes live in the area and        the kids. My 7 year old often comes out with          be completing the resurfacing of the parking
    the pool is a definite resource in the area         blue lips and this is during summer.’                 area so that it can be utilised properly’

•   Important part of Otumoetai and Matua. With     •   ‘The current facility is old and tired and        •   ‘The parking and access are awful’
    the growth of Bethlehem, and Te Puna these          needs updating. Our Children are trying to
                                                                                                          •   ‘The car park needs to be bigger and right
    facilities are the nearest for an ever              learn to swim in a pool that is far to cold for
                                                                                                              outside the pool complex’
    expanding sector of Tauranga City                   them making it hard for them to concentrate.’
                                                                                                          •   ‘It’s easy to find and the car parking is good’
•   Significant number of top level swimmers that   Users had different views about the parking and
    come out of this area and they need to be       general accessibility of the facility. Many thought   •   ‘It is convenient for parking’
    catered for.                                    parking was difficult and that more parking was
                                                                                                          •   ‘It is a central location with good parking’.
                                                    needed while others reported that parking was
We also received feedback on the:
                                                    good.                                                 In looking at the needs of the wider Tauranga
•   condition of the changing rooms;                                                                      West some users reported that they believe a
                                                    •   ‘The only thing I don’t like about it is the
                                                                                                          facility was needed in Bethlehem.
•   the water temperature of the smaller pool           access from the car park to the pool,
                                                        especially if you are alone at night, there are   •   ‘There is a large population in Tauranga
•   parking and accessibility
                                                        personal security issues’                             West other than Otumoetai, the nearest pool
                                                                                                              is Memorial (which is quite a long way from
                                                    •   The parking is dreadful at the current time.
                                                                                                              Bethlehem and Matua)’.
•   ‘The area has outgrown the facilities               The pool shares its parking with other
    available and the facilities themselves are         users of Bellevue Park including the              •   ‘Bethlehem needs a community pool’.
    extremely outdated’                                 Otumoetai Tennis Club and the Playcentre.
                                                                                                          We asked users if they would be willing to pay -
                                                        Prior to the Council’s cordoning off of part of
•   ‘The state of the changing shed is pretty                                                             either through user charges or rates - for a new
                                                        the parking facilities (apparently due to
    appalling’                                                                                            aquatics facility in Tauranga West. Many people
                                                        concerns of dust(!) by adjacent residents),
                                                                                                          indicated they would be willing to pay. Some also
•   ‘Otumoetai Pool has the worst changing              the parking was just bearable. Now at peak
                                                                                                          had clear preferences of how they would like to
    rooms I have ever seen at any pool, ever!’          times users of Bellevue Park have to park a
                                                                                                          contribute:
                                                        long distance down the road (a very busy
•   ‘I am happy with the existing facility, only
                                                        road) - which is quite unsafe for users with      •   ‘User charges are only way to go in this
    downside is the small pool is quite cold for
                                                        small children. This needs immediate remedy           economic climate’
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