Cr Lorna Johnson said she had been uncomfortable about removing the facility from community use without an alternative and she was pleased staff acted with urgency to come up with a solution. Cr Rachel Bowen said she was delighted the council had been able to respond to community disappointment “in a small if complicated way”. City resident Jenine Scoon said she was “stoked” the council had found a way to work around health and safety issues to allow people back into the pool.
David Unwin/Stuff
The swimming pool at Memorial Park will open this summer while construction of the new playground and splash pad continues.
But it was announced at Wednesday s council meeting it now had the funds. The Eastern and Central Community Trust, the New Zealand Community Trust, the Lion Foundation and the Mainland Foundation have gifted the remaining $235,000 for the installation of the splash pad and finishing the playground. With the confirmation of the funding, the council is working to see how fast the installation can happen so the park can reopen. But the council’s parks and reserves manager, Kathy Dever-Tod, said even with the funding the pool would not be open for the main part of the swimming season. It’s likely to open towards the end of March.