Thursday 7 November 2013

Scarborough Paddling Pool gets go ahead from new Council

At the first full Christchurch City Council meeting today, Councillors voted to spend up to $780,000 to replace the Scarborough Paddling Pool. The pool is one of the Top 30 Projects prioritised by the previous Council.

The pool was demolished in July this year. It is expected tenders will be sought early 2014 with construction of the new paddling pool beginning mid 2014 ensuring it can re-open by the 2014/15 summer season.

Hagley/ Ferrymead Councillors Yani Johanson and Paul Lonsdale welcome the news. Councillor Johanson says that ever since the pool was demolished earlier this year, he has been committed to seeing it replaced and completed as soon as possible.

“The Scarborough Paddling Pool was a well used and a much loved facility that has been sorely missed. I am delighted that Council has committed funding to enable a modern design that combines the traditional paddling pool with new features that will provide an exciting and fun space for people to enjoy,” he says.

A report outlining the funding options was tabled by staff today. The options considered were:

• To not reinstate the pool and put the pool site, now a grassed area, back into the existing park.
• To replace the pool the way it was with fencing and seating but not changing rooms. As well there will be a new splash-pad area. The estimated cost is $680,000 depending on ground conditions.
• To replace the pool slightly smaller than it was with fencing and seating but not changing rooms. There will also be a splash pad combined with water toys. The estimated cost is $780,000 depending on ground conditions. This option is the closest to the Hagley/ Ferrymead Community Board’s recommendation.
Extra costs to investigate ground stability were also outlined as the site is next to an old watercourse and may need remediation. The full cost of the paddling pool will need to be covered by the Council as there is no insurance money.

In August 2013 the Hagley/ Ferrymead Community Board led a public consultation on the Scarborough paddling pool and requested an aquatic play facility for the site. Features requested were: a graduated pool and soft surface, shades, showers, splash-pads and water toys. As well the community asked that it be safe and accessible and blend in with the environment. The Hagley Ferrymead Community Board will have the opportunity to fine tune the final design to ensure it meets community expectation.

Councillor Paul Lonsdale says the decision to replace the pool was a good one.

"This is a great outcome not only for the Sumner community but for the many families who travel across the city to the seaside village to enjoy the park and pool facilities," he says.

The paddling pool is one of the Council’s top 30 projects which it prioritised in September 2012 for funding, further investigations and, where possible, repairs. The Council has already repaired and re-opened the Botanic Gardens Paddling Pool and the New Brighton Whale Pool, which are also among its Top 30 projects.

For more information about the Council’s top 30 projects and its Facilities Rebuild Programme visit www.futurechristchurch.co.nz.

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