Locals are vowing to fight for Ashburton's outdoor community pool as its future hangs in the balance. LDR Reporter Jonathan Leask examines the scale of Tinwald Pool's problems, and asks an avid supporter why it should be saved.

It’s going to take more than a lick of paint to repair Ashburton's only council-run outdoor community pool, but resident Myshell Box says it’s worth it.

The Tinwald Community Pool was closed over the summer after it was found to be leaking 17,000 litres a day, had low pool users and staffing issues.

Its future is up for debate in the draft long-term plan, where the Ashburton District Council has $3m to spend on a pool.

Building a new outdoor pool at the EA Networks Centre in the Canterbury town is the preferred option up for consultation.

But other options are on the table - hydroslides at EA Networks Centre, upgrading the waterplay area at the Ashburton Domain, repairing the Tinwald pool or doing nothing.

The Tinwald community is rallying support to retain and repair the pool.

Myshell Box said the pool's potential closure “really infuriates me”.

Box has lived in Tinwald for over 35 years and was involved with the pool’s committee in the past.

“I’ve brought up four kids, have 13 grandchildren and have been a regular user of the pool.

“We need an outdoor pool so why can’t it be in Tinwald?

“It doesn’t always have to be at the EA Networks Centre. You don’t have to put all your eggs in one basket."

She couldn’t understand how the repairs could be $3m.

“It doesn’t need to be anything flash, we just want to be able to sit outside, have a picnic and swim.

“If councils have assets they should be maintaining them and shouldn’t let them get to the state of disrepair.”

Other community feedback has baulked at the hefty price tag to repair the pool, with plenty pointing at a $213,000 upgrade of Waimate’s Norman Kirk Memorial Swimming Pool, a Waimate District Council project is to upgrade the pool with a PVC membrane to stop water leaking.

Council’s people and facilities group manager Sarah Mosley said the Tinwald pool needs a lot more work than a reseal.

“The Tinwald Pool would be repaired and relined with a full replacement of piping and plant.

“The exact status of the current pipework is unknown due to being underground, but significant earthworks would be required to remove and replace all pipes to link the rebuilt pools to the new water treatment plant.”

A rural pools report in 2021 identified that the operational plant had reached the end of its useful life, Mosley said.

The council then used $36,100 of its better-off Government funding for surveying, concepts, and design works in 2022/23 for a potential rebuild.

“The funding from the government allowed the council to engage experts to complete an in-depth analysis of the issues and determine what we would need to do to bring this pool up to NZ standards.

“Once experts were involved it became clear that not only did the filter, chlorinator, pump and pipes all need replacing, they also need to be larger commercial units to meet the standards and a new plant shed to be built.

"To meet NZ standards, the pool design needed to change to accommodate entry ramps, make the main and children’s pool two separate bodies of water, install overflow channelling and balance tanks were also required.”

The estimated cost of all that work is $3m, based on the Rawlinsons QS Estimate, Mosley said.

It also doesn’t solve the other major issues facing the pool.

“The parallel issue for the Tinwald Pool is the challenges and costs associated with lifeguarding and operating a satellite pool.”

Mosely said a council decision in September to close the pool over summer was caused by a number of issues.

The pool has been plagued by ongoing lifeguard shortages, which is a nationwide issue.

It has also reached its end of life with a plant failure imminent, has variable summer weather, and receives low swimmer visitors, Mosely said.

In its best season, 3050 people visited in 2020-21. The Tinwald Pool recorded a $66,000 loss, costing ratepayers around $18 per swim.

The arguments over declining patronage also anger Box.

“How can you go when it’s never open because the council didn’t have lifeguards to open it?

“It was hardly ever open and it was frustrating because you didn’t know if it was until you turned up.”

The Tinwald community is coming out in support of retaining the pool, she said.

“It will be for everybody.”

The whole district is paying for it.

The uniform annual general charge, a flat rate ($717 in 2023/24) charged to properties in the district, contributes to running the EA Networks Centre which ran the Tinwald Pool.

And it will also fund its rebuild – or whichever option is decided up.

Other community pools under council control are funded in a completely different way to Tinwald Pool, Mosley said.

“The council supports each pool on reserve land with a grant up to $6k per year to address any health and safety matters, and then there is a $15,000 contestable fund for capital improvements.”

The other community pools also fundraise or receive financial support from their reserve board’s operation, she said.

Community pools not on reserve land, such as Lauriston, Willowby, Hampstead, Dorie, Fairton, Wakanui, can receive a share of $5000 per year to assist with their pool costs.

Methven Community Pool is also not on reserve land, however, the community requested $15,000 per year for funding towards their swimming pool, which is funded through a targeted rate on the Methven community, Mosley said.

The long-term plan will be out for community feedback on March 27 and people can get a first-hand look at the state of the pool at drop-in session on April 6 from 10am-2pm.

Councillors and staff will be walking groups through the pool facility, explaining what needs to be repaired.

Pool ownership

The Tinwald Community Pool was constructed in 1968 and was initially owned and operated by the Tinwald Swimming Club. Before the clubs closure, it was gifted to the Tinwald Reserve Board who either directly managed or contracted its management out to the Ashburton Community Pool.

In 2012 the reserve board and community organisations funded a cosmetic upgrade and significantly improved the pool’s heating. 

The Ashburton Community Pool closed in 2014 when the EA Networks Centre opened, coinciding with the council taking over the operational management of the pools.