Waimairi agrees to talk on financing pool

Press, Issue 32535, 19 February 1971, Page 1

Waimairi agrees to talk on financing pool

The proposal to have the Commonwealth Games swimming pool at Ham and the way in which the City Council has dealt with the position were criticised in reports received by the Waimairi County Council at its meeting last evening and by councillors at the meeting.

In the context of a refusal by the Paparua County Council* to contribute to a pool at Ham, and a warning yesterday by the chairman of the Games organising committee (Mr R. H. Scott) that lack of positive action over the pool was causing an increasingly critical situation, the council agreed to discuss with the City Council and other councils the financing of the construction of a covered pool.

The council, on the motion of Cr I. Calvert, agreed that the basis of the talks should be agreement by the City Council to pay the amount it originally proposed, that there was an adequate Government contribution and that other councils, including the City Council, agree to meet the balance of costs.

“Waimairi is in the gun again, cast as the bad boys and the first to make a decision,” said Cr G. G. Don, when the council discussed

its attitude to the pool. “We didn’t find out Ml the answers, and I don’t think we ever will,” he said, referring to discussions held between the council and Cr H. C Blazey, of the City Council. "The key to the fate of the pool lies with Waimairi, and too often have we been placed in this position,” he said. “Yet we have always supported major projects when they have been given full prior consideration.” Cr W. Rf Holmes said that to support the s2m pool would prejudice chances to develop other pools. To

spend s2m to foster sport generally in Christchurch would be an exciting project, but he doiibted the wisdom of spending s2m on a pool that had little expecta-

tion of being fully used for more than three weeks in 1974. Local bodies should be offering responsibile government, not games and circuses. The cost was such that it could not be justified and it was better not to have the pool and earn international oppprobrium than require the public to bear the costs. “No-one, including the newspapers’ can accuse us of slamming the door in the face of the City Council,” said Cr A. A. Adcock. The county, from a full study, knew that it needed new swimming pools. The City

Council had done no planning, and came up with a slap-happy scheme. “A pool of this type, built for the Melbourne Games, is rarely used or even open today because of the cost of running it,” said Cr Adcock. The ball should be tossed back for the City Council to ' justify its scheme. We have . not shut the door.” The chairman (Mr D. B. i Rich) said that a meeting of local body mayors and chair- ' men would probably be held i on March 11 to discuss regional questions, and the pool would be on the - agenda. Cr Blazey had been frank, ‘ but the same could not be ( said of others, said Mr Rich. ’ The news media could do the city a service by explain- ' ing how Waimairi had found 1 itself in the biggest local , body bungle he knew of, : through no fault of its own. “I am not prepared to see ' this project entered into lightly by this council. There has been one bungle. There is not going to be another. We are not going to be black-

tailed into a decision before we get information,” said Mr Rich. He said the City Council should not take without giving. Waimairi had asked for a say in joint projects, such as the M.E.D., and had asked the city last year for a voice —but there had been no reply. Cr F. J. Aitken said he was sure the City Council could not bear all the expense itself. He had consulted 27

■ratepayers, who would not mind an extra $2 a year on their rates to help. ChristI church had never been able . to take the bull by the horns • and carry out a big project i properly. I “We either support them !or decide we are not big > enough and stop paying our $30,000 to the Games,” he s said. 1 "We are willing to talk, but - don't want to be rushed,” 1 said Cr W. T. Rice.