Mayor discusses pool alternative

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32521, 3 February 1971, Page 3

Mayor discusses pool alternative

The most acceptable solution to providing a swimming pool for the 1974 Commonwealth Games, if local bodies neighbouring the city were not going to assist in the project, might be to improve the Centennial Pool to full Commonwealth and Olympic standards, but to leave it uncovered—thus saving $500,000, the Mayor of Christchurch (Mr A. R. Guthrey) said yesterday.

Mr Guthrey was commenting on the decision of the Paparua County Council on Monday evening not to assist in financing a pool, and not to receive Cr H. C. Blazey, or any other city councillor, to speak in sup port of the proposal to site the proposed pool on the Christchurch Teachers’ College campus at Ham.

“The Ham site proposal was not confirmed by the full City Council and is only at an exploratory stage. It appears, however, that as Paparua will not agree, this site will have to be eliminated,” Mr Guthrey• said.

“Although, at this stage, the association says that an uncovered pool is not acceptable, it may be one of the conditions we may have to make,” said the Mayor. Precedent quoted “There is precedent for this as I understand that the pool at Jamaica was not covered. Adverse weather would no more upset swimming events than it would track events.” The Mayor said that there was nothing sinister or misleading about the differences between the original estimate of costs and present estimates.

In 1968 the City Engineer had been asked for an estimate to increase the size of the main pool and cover it. This had been estimated to cost between $650,000 and $750,000, but had been revised in November, 1969, to $850,000. “In September, 1970, the City Engineer was asked for an estimate to include a separate diving pool, training pool and a new learners’ pool. This was estimated at sl.Bm! Modifications have since been suggested that would reduce this cost to sl.sm. It must be remembered that these are estimates only, and the final tender prices could vary up or down.”

Mr Guthrey said he appreciated the Paparua County’s reluctance to contribute to the swimming pool at Hath, as there were good reasons both for and against the proposed Teachers’ College site. “Disappointed” “I am, however, disappointed that they were not prepared to receive Cr Blazey, even at committee level, to hear the case for financial support by the whole community of Christchurch, as this will undoubtedly be a metropolitan project to the advantage of everybody. “The choice of the most suitable site for a covered pool is a most complex one, and all city councillors and executive staff have been giving the matter a considerable amount of study. Whatever the final decision, there will be many people disappointed and of the opinion that we made the wrong decision. “It should be remembered that a covered pool is mainly for use for training purposes, schools and tournaments, and for the small number of enthusiasts who wish to swim in the winter months. Cost-sharing “For this reason it should be centrally sited, or in a situation that will serve a reasonable number in the above category.

“The reason for considering the Ham site rather than a central site was that we felt that the other local bodies could be reasonably asked to contribute, and that the university and Teachers’ College authorities could also be asked to make a contribution, thus relieving the City Council ratepayers of the total cost, and for the cost to be shared fairly over the whole community. “Also Teachers’ College students are required to teach swimming and both university and the college students would make considerable use of a covered pool in winter months.

“The'pool would, of course, be sited so that the public had access at all times and the pool would not be for the exclusive use of students or any other category. “If we should build a new pool near the centre of the city, it would compete with the present Centennial Pool and thus increase considerably the administration costs. Lido pools “I feel that a covered pool is not really suitable in the suburbs, where lido pools are much more attractive. Recreational swimmers, as opposed to dedicated swimmers, spend just as much time around the pool in thesun as they do in the water. Spectators also like pleasant surroundings in sunshine. “1 attended the swimming events at Edinburgh and found the warm atmosphere in the covered pool was not as acceptable as an open pool. “There is no doubt that there is a need for a lido pool in our eastern suburbs, and the City Council must give urgent consideration to this,” the Mayor said. “I appeal to all those who care about the Commonwealth Games project to avoid unnecessary controversy on any Games matters, including the siting of a Games swimming pool which, incidentally must be cow ered,” said Mr R. S. Scott, chairman of the organising committee, last evening. “This latter problem is unlikely to be solved satisfactorily other than by sensible and logical discussion, for which there is ample room and which will merely produce a sensible and logical result, whatever that may be. “A nation-wide fund-rais-ing campaign is soon to be launched. The sound of public discord in greater Christchurch is hardly the right sort of background for such an appeal which, if it fails to reach its objective, will throw a yet greater burden on this area."