Councillors and Trust to Meet to Discuss Pool

Dunedin (Tuesday, 24 February 2015) – Dunedin City Councillors and the Taieri Communities Facilities Trust (TCFT) will hold a workshop on Tuesday, 3 March to discuss proposals to build a new pool in Mosgiel.

Mayor Dave Cull says the workshop will be an opportunity for both Councillors and TCFT members to discuss the framework around which the decision-making process needs to be based.

During Long Term Plan (LTP) discussions last month, the Council agreed to include information on two pool, three pool and four pool Mosgiel Pool options as unfunded options in the LTP consultation document for public feedback in March/April.

"When Councillors come to consider a project like this it isn't simply a question of yes or no based on cost or level of need. Any pool facility would be developed on a partnership basis between Council, the Trust and the community, so it is important that both sides develop and maintain a clear understanding of all the decision making and financial factors that might impact on us.

"The Council and DCC staff have put a lot of work in recent years into establishing a strategic framework. This is designed to, among other things, help guide Councillors so that decisions on individual projects aren't made in isolation but are done in a consistent way."

The meeting will be an opportunity for senior DCC staff to explain more about the Spatial Plan, which is one of the components of the strategic framework. It will also provide a chance to discuss other key documents, such as the New Zealand Aquatic Facilities Development Guidelines, and how a new pool in Mosgiel could fit within that.

DCC staff will also provide financial modelling implications for a range of possible options, ranging from refurbishing the existing pool to replacing it with either a two, three or four pool complex.

Mr Cull says this will give both Councillors and TCFT members a much clearer picture of the potential options and implications.

"My sincere hope is that it will also give Trust members and Councillors the opportunity to ask questions of staff and each other so that we can deepen our mutual understanding of the issues around the Mosgiel aquatic facilities proposal."

Trust Chair Michael Stedman says the Trust is delighted at the prospect of the workshop; it reflects the very best in Council and community engagement.

“The community’s support for an aquatic facility to replace the 80 year old and wholly inadequate present pool is immense. The community has committed to funding 50% of a proposed four pool complex, one that serves the entire community, from 2 year olds to 92 year olds.”

The Trust’s report to the Council recommending a four pool centre was based on the information gathered from the 2500 people who completed the online survey and meetings with 80 group and organisations across the Taieri catchment.

The Trust’s report also drew heavily on DCC reports and recommendations going back many years, all of which have seen the need for a new facility.

“Over the past six months the Trust has developed an immensely valuable and productive relationship with Council staff; the workshop is another important step in forging a strong sense of partnership.

“The Taieri catchment of 30,000 residents is the fastest growing area in Dunedin city; both the Council and the community working together in a climate of partnership can build a strong future for this important and growing part of Dunedin city.”

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