Welcome to the Motueka Swimming Pool Fundraising Page
The Motueka Community Swimming Pool is closer to fruition with inclusion in the Tasman District Council 2021-31 Long Term Plan. Building on the years of planning and fund-raising, the 18 month process of the Long Term Plan involved formal submisions, meetings with council staff and presentations to councillors, all assisted by 60 community submissions in support.
The TDC LTP allocated $50,000 in 2021 to undertake a feasibility study and $100,000 in 2022 for technical and building plans to demonstrate the integrity of the project before use of ratepayer funds. Funding for construction is earmarked for 2023. Working on this as a joint venture between the Motueka Community Swimming Pool committee and TDC has begun.
Year round heated and covered pool are much needed for use by all ages and all demographics; toddlers, learn to swim, school children, teenagers, active swimmers, recreational exercisers, families, accident and illness rehabilitation, healthy lifestylers, older actives. It will be one of the most used recreational facilities and be in use all day, seven days a week. Motueka is the largest town in the South Island without covered and heated pools.
A purpose built facility will be sited on Sports Park Motueka adjacent to the Motueka High School outdoor pool. It will encompass a 4 lane 25m main pool, 8 m x 6 m therapeutic pool, toddlers pool and spa pool. Facilities and access is designed to cater for the whole community.
A number of constuction methods and styles have been investigated with the concept plans developed by Calder Stewart having the right balance between style, durability, efficiency and cost. Pool construction, filtration, heating, water treatment, air handling, solar voltaic electicity and insulation have all been designed to deliver great swimming experiences and long term performance.
This is not an over blown aquatic centre with hydro slides, wave pools or lazy rivers, and with cafes and gyms provided commercially in town the design is styled as a Corolla (station wagon?) rather than an SUV. This is also designed to make the project financially achievable rather than being unsupported as has happened with at least 2 previous projects that did not make the TDC Long Term Plans.
Building, equipment and infrastructure costs have been obtained from established contactors and are projected to be $3.5m
While TDC staff and councillors recognised the challenge of building a facility for $3.5m they chose to retain an earlier $3.0m cost in the LTP documentation. With funding under a 2/3 TDC 1/3 community funding mechanism this has translated to TDC only committing to $2m, leaving $1.5m to the Motueka community and other funding sources.
This is seen as achievable but with some of the funding still “best intentions” rather than firm commitments and the desire to achieve more (if possible) than the concept as currently costed the committee continues to work on a variety of fund-raising activities. This ranges from ongoing community fundraisers like Quiz and Movies Nights, connecting with external funders like Rata and Lotteries and of course there will still be sausage sizzles. Community support at these events and the feedback given bolsters the money in the bank and the enthusiasm of those working on the project. As a community lead project there is flexibility in how contributions can be made and recognised and any approach to assist will be appreciated.
Lions and Lionesses in Motueka have been key partners in the project with support and fundraising focussed on the therapeutic pool. With the inclusion in the LTP the local funds can be leveraged through the wider Lions international organisation.
The Motueka community has needed heated swimming facilities for years. Inclusion in the LTP brings this a step closer than before but work with TDC is necessary over the next 2 years before we can finally begin construction. Keep an eye on swim suit styles, but hold off buying new togs for the first swim a couple of years.
Browse the rest of this website and we will tell you more about how this will happen, and how you will be able help in this awesome and worthwhile project. In particular, we need your donation.
