Olympic Pool Approved

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31774, 3 September 1968, Page 16

Olympic Pool Approved

Approval in principle of the progressive development of an Olympic - standard swimming pool at Hornby was given by the Paparua County Council last evening, although it was agreed that the project would take a number of years to complete.

The reserves and domains committee reported that it had considered that the estimated price of the scheme might be more than could be met by normal council resources, and that such a pool would need a population of up to 100,000 to support it It was agreed that it was wise to plan now for future needs, as present-day facilities would soon become fully taxed.

Estimates of cost prepared by the assistant county engineer (Mr T. Lucas) were taken in committee. They were based on buying four acres of land, and on constructing a main pool 165 ft by 65ft a diving pool 40ft square, and a learners’ pool 50ft square, all with heating and water treatment. Mr Lucas said that the Moana Olympic pool at Dunedin, although overloaded as to numbers using it, was only breaking even financially. Dunedin's population was 100,000. To cater for Olympic Games, the pool should be able to seat 10,000 spectators, with 4000 seats for Empire games. Moana’s seating capac ity was 750. Mr Lucas suggested that the council should consider the various factors, as this would affect siting of the proposed pool.

Beautification.—To encourage an improvement in the appearance of business premises, the council decided to ask the Canterbury Horticultural Society to organise garden competitions among various premises at Sockburn. Sealing. Approval was given for the sealing of the Sockburn Park swimming pool parking area and of a kerbed turning area in Weaver Place at a cost of about $2530. Rubbish.—The district committees reported that they were in favour of introducing the disposable paper bag method of rubbish collection, and the council agreed to the

scheme in principle. The chairman (Mr D. H. Warren) said the scheme would probably be introduced over a year or more to keep costs and inconvenience at a minimum.

Wage Rise.—The general wage order would cost about $5200 for the rest of the financial year, said the County Clerk (Mr A. Kelly).

Milk Funds.—The council agreed to accept $3BlO as its share of the Christchurch Metropolitan Milk Board’s assets of $54,000, and to put the money in a special fund for county development projects. New Charges.—Restoration costs of sewer lateral trenches had been discussed by metropolitan councils to see if uniformity and a more realistic charge could be set, said the County Engineer (Mr Dyhrberg). The council agreed that in future, it would charge $25 as against $l7 to restore a sealed road and footpath, and to retain the $lO fee for a minor opening in the footpath. New Hall.—The Hornby Hall Committee would try to raise $5OOO towards the cost of a community hall at the proposed new Hornby intermediate school, the Hornby town committee reported. Intersection.—lt would cost about $2OOO to realign the Waterloo Road-Pound Road intersection, said Mr Dyhrberg. Told that a stop sign, recently erected on the Pound Road corner, was proving effective, the council decided to take no further action. Warrants.—The Sockburn testing station would be open on the mornings of December 14 and 21 (Saturdays) and on the Saturday morning before Easter in 1969, the joint committee reported. Further consideration would be given to opening the station on another week night in addition to Tuesdays.

Crossing.—By one vote, the council adopted a motion by Cr E. C. Britnell to rescind its refusal to put in a pedestrian crossing at the Main South Road entrance to Riccarton High School, and agreed to get a report on the proposal.