Wednesday 15 December 2004

Local Business Dives at Opportunity for New Pool

Gisborne Olympic Pool this week received a five-year sponsorship proposal from a local business worth over $100,000.

The proposal is the result of a campaign by newly established group Friends of Gisborne Olympic Pool Society in an effort to raise money for a new aquatic recreation pool complex.

The as yet unnamed local business has proposed a five-year contract for naming rights and advertising opportunities at the Olympic Pool Complex worth $110,000 or $22,000 a year.

Friends Committee member and Olympic Pool Complex Manager Hendrik Roos said he was thrilled with the proposal.

“This business has approached us because it wants to put something back into the community. The staff had heard about our vision of establishing a new pool complex for Gisborne within the next 10 years and they wanted to be part of that development.”

“I am very excited about the additional opportunities this brings in terms of promoting the complex and creating additional revenue.”

Mr Roos said around $85,000 would be earmarked for eventual establishment of a new aquatic recreation complex. It would be put into a trust account until the time comes to start building the new complex.

The remainder of the sponsorship funding will be used to create additional advertising opportunities for the Olympic Pool, and to support the Friends Society in its fundraising efforts. Mr Roos said earlier this month the Friends sent 100 copies of an advertising and sponsorship proposal to local and national businesses. There had been only one response.

The Friends Society is now preparing the necessary documents to take to the Gisborne District Council (GDC) which will make the final decision on whether the pool can be renamed. Mr Roos hopes the decision will be made in January.

Chairman of the Friends Society and Chair of GDC’s Community Development Committee Hemi Hikawai said he was thrilled by this proposal.

“We floated the idea of a new pool to the community a short time ago. It looks as though it is starting to happen with actual dollars rather than just words.”

“It’s great news. As we know, the Olympic Pool Complex is a great facility in summer but it has many limitations and is not user-friendly over winter.”

Mr Hikawai said due to the Pool’s current layout, age and difficult location in the harsh and corrosive environment at Midway Beach, ratepayers face increasing costs for maintenance and heating.

“The only way to bring the operating costs down and increase revenue is with a new, modern facility. This will not be cheap, but the first step has been taken.”

ENDS

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