New Thermal Pool Soon At Hamner

Press, Volume C, Issue 29709, 30 December 1961, Page 8

New Thermal Pool Soon At Hamner

The replacement of the men's thermal pool at Queen Mary Hospital. Hanmer, by a larger pool for mixed bathing is in the IMS-68 programme of the Division of Mental Health. Health Department, the director of the division (Dr. G. BlakeHakner) said yesterday. “The urgentcy of the need te replace the pool is fully recognised, and this work is Included in the division's programme in anticipation that economic considerations and our allocation will allow of its being undertaken during the financial year, 196265,” he said. "The primary purpose of the thermal pools is to serve the needs of the hospital, but it has always been the policy and aim of the department to offer the use of these facilities to the visiting public. The extent to which the public have taken advantage of the facilities offered has, in fact, aggravated some of the difficulties imposed by the nature of and the high mineral content of the thermal waters at Hanmer. “These and related matters have been the subject of many Ministerial replies to South Island local bodies, the tourist association, and many interested individuals. “The Ministry of Works is designing a new layout for the thermal pools, the first stage of which will involve a replacement pool somewhat larger in dimensions than the present men’s pool. This pool will be used for mixed clothing bathing and the terrace and surround will be designed so as to be more in keeping with the setting of the Hammer grounds." “The present men's pool will be closed. The present women's and children's pools will continue in operation much as at present. They are nearing the end of their economic life and their replacement is intended in due course. “There is no age restriction on persons using the pool and there is no intention of introducing any restrictions other than those necessitated

by medical grounds or common prudence. “Details so to the cost of the urgent replacement of the main thermal pool at Hanmer will not be known until plana are more advanced and the quantity survey has been completed. The size of the pool win be strictly determined by the known flow of thermal water which is more limited and restricted then tms been generally assumed, heace the gazetted rectrietioee that have been imposed on boring in the Hanmer township area for many decades. “One important factor in the cost of the scheme wiU be related to the technical difficulties in maintaining a satisfactory standard of purification in the highly mineralised water at Hamner. A sum somewhat In excess of £20,600 has been provisionally assessed for IMS-43. “An important saving in costs wiU be effected as a result of siting the new pool in functional relationship to the present bath house with its single bathe, physiotherapy and related installations.”