Locals Dive In Deep For Pool Refresh

By John Freer

It was the term localism which stood out at this week’s re-opening of the Whangamata Community Swimming Pool.

Several speakers talked about the development of the pool since its origins back in the 1990s through until its latest six-month $430,000 refit.

Every one of them referenced a similar theme – their town had a classy swimming pool which was originally built, then maintained, and now renovated, the backbone of this being the local community.

Local architect Bruce Scott opened, addressing a small group of locals and relating the story of how two units were built over one weekend, which when sold provided $140,000 funding to the original pool concept.

As Bruce mentioned, many people provided their time or skills to build the houses. Some people also provided the food, so much of it that a function was held on the Sunday evening at the memorial hall so all the food could be consumed.

It was Deputy Mayor, Councillor Terry Walker, who used the term localism saying the recent pool project was a great example of what could be achieved, urging people to embrace the concept for other potential projects.

Chairman of the pool committee, Rob Boston, maintained more than 1000 volunteer hours had gone into the project – while acknowledging many local companies, he also made a special mention of the local Menzshed members. Their fingerprints are all over the upgrade.

The icing on the project is that for more than 12 years, the pool committee has had the support of Whangamata Real Estate as the complex naming rights sponsor.

Rob told us there is still a little more work to do but the pool is now open and will enable full use over the coming summer period.

He did share something else being that local help is going to now be called upon to build a new learn to swim pool.

You can hear an interview with Rob by opening the link below.