Aquatic Strategy and Feasibility Study - Far North District Council

MEETING: COUNCIL – 25 July 2013
Name of item: DRAFT AQUATIC STRATEGY & FEASIBILITY STUDY
Author:
Sue Hodge, Community Policy Manager
Date of report: 8 July 2013
Document number: A1372543
Item: 5.1
Executive Summary
The purpose of the report is to receive the Draft Aquatic Strategy and a presentation
from the author Freeman Associates and to set down a time to workshop the
recommendations in more detail. It is also suggested that the draft strategy is made
available to the three Community Boards, the two swimming pool interest groups, the
current pool operators and the affected schools for their comments prior to a Council
workshop.
Recommendation:
THAT the Draft Aquatic Strategy and Feasibility Studies for Kaitaia, Kaikohe and
Kerikeri report be sent to the three Community Boards, Te Hiku Community
Aquatic and Recreational Centre group, the Kerikeri Aquatic and Fitness Centre
group, CBEC, The Hub Trust and the affected schools being Northland College,
Bay of Islands College, Te Rangi Aniwaniwa, Kaitaia College and Kerikeri High
School for their comments prior to the Council holding a workshop to discuss the
draft strategy and financial implications in more detail.
1) Background:
Sport New Zealand has funded an independent evidence based aquatic strategy for the
future development and provision of swimming pools in the Far North. This study looks
at the provision of a Northland hierarchy of indoor and outdoor facilities to meet the
needs of the Far North residents for recreational and competition swimming for the next
15-20 years.
Council has funded a feasibility study of proposed indoor heated swimming pools at
Kaitaia, Kerikeri and Kaikohe. The draft feasibility study includes the operational and
capital costs of these pools and the impact on existing swimming pools such as
Kawakawa. The feasibility study aligns with the draft Far North Aquatic strategy.
The attached document “Draft Aquatic Strategy & Feasibility studies for Kaitaia, Kerikeri
and Kaikohe” has been prepared by Freemen Associates and peer reviewed by Sport
New Zealand.
2) Discussion and options
There are two interest groups in Kaitaia and Kerikeri [Te Hiku Community Aquatic and
Recreational Centre group and the Kerikeri Aquatic and Fitness Centre group] that are
Document number A1372543 Page 1 of 5

championing indoor heated swimming pools in their respective towns. These groups
have made submissions to Council through the Long Term Plan and Annual Plan
process. They have met regularly with the author of the draft strategy and have been
engaged in the strategy development. The draft strategy has been released to these
groups simultaneously with Councilors. They have not had time to review the document
and provide feedback although they have been invited to attend the July Council
meeting.
Council’s pool operator, CBEC, have provided much of the information that has been
used to develop the recommendations in the draft strategy. An independent pool
management company has audited the condition of the existing pools. CBEC have been
given a copy of the draft strategy and condition assessment and have not had time to
read and comment on the content of the report, the validity or the recommendations.
The recommendations in the strategy will affect a number of schools such as Bay of
Islands College, Kerikeri High School, Northland College, Te Rangi Aniwaniwa and
Kaitaia College. It is recommended these schools are also provided with an opportunity
to comment on the report and recommendations.
Community Boards have a role in recommending to Council community facilities that
might be required by their communities or an increase in the community rate. It is
recommended this draft strategy is presented to the Boards for their comments prior to
further Council consideration.
The draft strategy has been developed after consideration of a number of other relevant
documents and information such as:
1. The new purpose statement that requires local government to “meet the
current and future needs of communities for good-quality local infrastructure
in a way that is most cost-effective for households and businesses.”
2. Current School Pool provision and the portable pool program
3. Far North Swimming Club needs and wants
4. Regional Aquatic Facilities
5. 2013 National Facilities strategy for aquatic sports
6. Street surveys
7. CLM’s independent pool condition assessment report
3) Recommendations:
The report has a number of recommendations.
1. Firstly, the FNDC establish a hierarchy of swimming pool provision, and
rationalise existing swimming pool facilities, to provider fewer, higher quality facilities,
this being the most cost- effective option for households and businesses in the Far North
area.
The hierarchy will consist of:
Regional Provision
Document number A1372543 Page 2 of 5

The strategy proposes that the regional facilities for Northland competitive swimming can
best be met by:
(a) Long-course events - 50 metre outdoor pool in Dargaville.
(b) Short-course events: Whangarei is best placed to develop a new 25 metre x
8 lane pool with seating for 1,000 people.
District Provision
Kerikeri
To meet the wider district needs for a higher quality facility an indoor heated 25 metre x
8 lane swimming pool complex, with learners / hydrotherapy pool, lazy river and dive
pool be developed in Kerikeri
Estimated cost of $12-15M
Local Provision
To meet local swimming pool needs the most cost effective options for households and
businesses are recommended below:
Kaitaia
Indoor heated learners/hydrotherapy pool and lazy river, and an outdoor 25 metre x 6
lane swimming pool complex, with dive pool and toddlers play area that complements
and does not compete with the lane pool at Te Puna Wai, to meet the long-term needs
of the Kaitaia community
Estimated cost of $6-8M
Kaikohe
Outdoor 25 metre x 6 lane pool, with dive pool at Northland College to meet the needs of
the Kaikohe community.
Estimated cost of $3-4M
Community pools
Council continues to support public access to school pools such as Whangaroa College
as this is aligned with FNDC's vision to provide an appropriate quantity and quality of
aquatic facilities to meet needs of residents.
2. Secondly, the report recommends rationalising the current facilities to provide
fewer but higher quality facilities
Kawakawa
To rationalise older, poor quality swimming pool facilities in the Far North the Kawakawa
Pool is closed to coincide with development of the Kerikeri swimming pool complex,
because investing in maintaining this pool is not the most cost-effective long- term option
for households and businesses in this community.
Document number A1372543 Page 3 of 5

Kaitaia
To rationalise older, poor quality swimming pool facilities the Kaitaia memorial pool is
closed to coincide with development of the Kaitaia indoor - outdoor pool because
investing in maintaining this pool is not the most cost-effective long-term option for
households and businesses in this community.
4) Financial implications and budgetary provision
This independent draft strategy and feasibility study proposes a hierarchy of pools to be
developed over the next 15 years to meet the needs of the District.
Any new swimming pool proposal will require significant investment. As a guide the
feasibility study has determined what a potential swimming pool targeted ward rate might
need to be to fund the full cost of each swimming pool proposal. However, the Council
has been clear to date that each community would be expected to fundraise for their
local share of any proposed facility. The Te Hiku Community Aquatic and Recreational
Centre group and the Kerikeri Aquatic and Fitness Centre group have stated they are
prepared to fundraise for swimming pool facilities in their community.
The Council is also aware that the capacity of each community to fundraise for their local
share may vary as they rely heavily on community grant organisations such as ASB
Trust, Lion Foundation or New Zealand Lottery Board. Unfortunately, under their current
funding criteria there are limited opportunities for any significant funding for swimming
pools.
The Council has other capital projects that it has prioritised such as Bay of Islands
Wastewater project. The Council needs to consider the timing of these projects along
side any recommendations to build discretionary projects such as new swimming pools.
Therefore to enable Council to consider the full financial implications of this draft strategy
it is recommended a workshop is held so that more time is available for discussion and
debate. This discussion could consider the validity of the suggested hierarchy, the
potential timing of projects, the possibility of considering a swimming pool targeted ward
rate and what might be considered to be a fair “local’ share that needs to be fundraised
among other issues.
Any conclusions the Council might reach, or any options the Council would like the
community to consider, would need to be included in the 2015 Long Term Plan for public
input.
5) Reason for the Recommendation
It is recommended those organisations or groups that might be affected by this draft
strategy be provided an opportunity to read and comment on the draft strategy prior to
Council considering it further. It is further recommended that once this information has
been received the Council holds a workshop so that sufficient time is available to discuss
the recommendations in the draft strategy and the financial implications.
Corporate Services Manager; Bernard Murphy - General Manager
Attachment 1: Aquatic Strategy & Feasibility studies for Kaitaia, Kerikeri and Kaikohe
Document No; A1372741
Document number A1372543 Page 4 of 5

Compliance schedule:
Full consideration has been given to the provisions of the Local Government Act 2002 in
relation to decision making and in particular the need to promote the social, economic,
environmental and cultural well being of the Community, and the views and preferences
of persons likely to be affected by, or have an interest in, the matter, as set out below:
Relationship with existing policies and
Community outcomes
Possible implications for the relationship of
Maori and their culture and traditions with
their ancestral land, water, site, waahi
tapu, valued flora and fauna, and other
taonga
Views or preferences of persons likely to
be affected by, or to have an interest in the
matter, including persons with disabilities.
Does the issue, proposal, decision or other
matter have a high degree of significance as
determined under the Council's policy 2116?
There is no particular implication for Maori
The views of the Te Hiku Community
Aquatic and Recreational Centre group
and the Kerikeri Aquatic and Fitness
Centre groups are yet to be provided
Yes the recommendations in the draft
report are significant and the final
recommendations would need to be
included in the 2015/2025 Long Term
Plan.
If the matter has a Community rather than
a District wide relevance has the
Community Board's views been sought?
Document number A1372543 Page 5 of 5