Thames Aquatic Facilities Project
An update on the pool replacement
Thames Community Board has recommended to Council that a $26.2 million dollar facility on the grounds of Thames High School be built to replace Thames Centennial Pool. However, due to the impending elections this decision by the full Council has been put on hold until a new Council is in place and informed to make a decision.
The major issue for Council is the capital cost of a new facility. The Thames Community Board have indicated informally that any new facility is likely to be unaffordable if funded solely by the Thames Ward, hence the need for the new Council to fully consider the position.
Check out these questions and answers for the latest thinking on Thames's aquatic facility.
Why don't we get more information about what's going on?
When decisions are made we will keep the public informed. The last time we informed the community was in March 2025 when the Community Board voted on the business case, recommending an all-indoor facility costing $26.2 million. Since then, decision-making has been delayed by elections and there have been no specific developments to report.
Why’s it taking so long?
It’s one of the single biggest decisions on Thames infrastructure facing Council. In a very tight economic climate we have had to make sure all viable, affordable alternatives are explored and costed.
When will a decision be made about a new pool?
We expect the new elected Council to discuss the issue early in 2026.
Why does it need to be heated?
A needs assessment in 2022 identified all-year round heated water as being an important factor requested by the community, particularly the rapidly growing older age group and for people with disabilities and for young learners too. Cold water was also cited as a key factor preventing people using the pool in a survey question in 2024.
Where is the new pool going to be?
Thames High School is one of the few places in Thames which contains enough land to locate a pool structure. Following extensive site assessment of multiple locations, Thames High School is the most feasible location. The High School supports an aquatic facility being sited there.
Will the high school have free use of it during the week?
The pool will be used by Thames High School students during day.
When’s this pool closing?
We have given an undertaking to close the pool in mid-2027 in order for it to be removed by the end of 2027. As part of the next step in this work, we need to discuss a detailed timeframe with iwi.
What’s going to happen if there isn’t a new pool
We are working hard to ensure there is ongoing aquatic provision for Thames. We have not reached any decision yet, but will let the public know as soon as it is clearer.
The Business Case
A proposal to build a $26.2 million all-indoor facility on Thames High School grounds is being recommended by Thames Community Board as the most affordable option to replace Thames’ ageing Centennial Pool and meet community needs.
This is one of six options (including not replacing Centennial Pool) thoroughly investigated in a business case put to the Board at its 19 March 2025 meeting. The Board chose this as its preferred option and recommended it to the Council to approve.
The recommended option would contain three indoor pools: a learn-to-swim pool for younger children, a programme pool for therapy, aqua walking and learn-to-swim for older children, and a 6-lane 25-metre lap pool. There would also be an indoor splash pad.
The project acknowledges that finding a way to make the pool replacement affordable to the community is a major challenge. The average annual cost per ratepayer over 30 years would be around $682 - if funded entirely by Thames Ward.
Under the preferred model, capital costs would be reduced by building the upper section of the aquatic facility with ‘structural fabric’ - a curved steel roof holding two layers of structural fabric with insulation sandwiched in between. A similar structure has been used in Kaitāia’s Te Hiku Sports Hub which opened in 2024 and is reported to be performing well.
At 50 years of age, Thames Centennial Pool is reaching the end of its useful life. It is built on a urupā | burial site. It has been agreed with Ngāti Maru that the pool will be removed.
The facility is the top recommended option in a business case that completes over three years’ work investigating community needs, sites, technical specifications, build options and costs, with key input from consultants Visitor Solutions.
A feasibility study undertook comprehensive assessment of 19 possible sites, and determined that the Richmond Street court site on land leased from Thames High School was the strongest local site. A sub-regional facility at Kōpū South, although also scoring highly in a 2024 public survey, has been evaluated in the business case as not viable for Thames ratepayers without additional financial support.
The needs and views of the public have been assessed in two surveys and drop-in sessions. Key findings included the importance of aquatic provision to the public – providing a vital life skill in learning to swim, promoting wellbeing and fitness, and facilitating rehabilitation and leisure. Many people identified the lack of all-year round adequately warm water in Thames’ current outdoor pool as a turn-off, particularly for young learners and an ageing population (with senior citizens forecast to comprise 47% of Thames’ population by 2054).
The six options investigated by the business case are:
|
Option
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No pool replacement
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All outdoor, Richmond St site
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Indoor-outdoor mix, Richmond St site
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All indoor, structural fabric building, Richmond St site
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All indoor, traditional building, Richmond St site
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All indoor, sub-regional staged centre Kōpū South
Stage 1 Stage 2
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|
Scope
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-
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25m x 7 lanes
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Outdoor: 25m x 6 lanes
Indoor: learn-to-swim pool programme pool, splash pad
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25m x 6 lanes, learn-to-swim pool, programme pool, splash pad
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25m x 6 lanes, learn-to-swim pool, programme pool splash pad
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25m x 7 lanes, learn-to-swim pool, programme pool, spa, sauna, steam
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All the stage 1 amenities plus leisure pool and fitness centre
|
|
Water
|
-
|
450m2
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660m2
|
660m2
|
660m2
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673 m2
|
823m2
|
|
Estimated visits (per year)
|
-
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37,000
|
58,500
|
61,500
|
62,500
|
65,500
|
91,500
|
|
Capital expenditure (pre cost escalation)
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$550,000 (cost of removing Centennial Pool)
|
$13,509,000
|
$22,472,000
|
$26,208,000
|
$29,021,000
|
$40,074,000
|
$54,494,000
|
|
Operational expenditure (first year, inflation-adjusted)
|
Saving $659,000
|
$779,000
|
$1,075,000
|
$1,098,000
|
$1.074m
|
$1,242,000
|
$1,692,000
|
|
Average annual ratepayer impact over 30 years if Thames funded only
|
Saving $148
|
$325
|
$592
|
$682
|
$729
|
$988
|
$1,273
|
|
Conclusion
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Not a viable option. Significant impact and loss of provision
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4th option in business case. Cheapest but limited value for spending
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2nd strongest option. Will meet majority of community needs.
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Business case ranked it the strongest and most balanced option.
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3rd option in business case. Higher cost may be unaffordable
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Not viable for Thames ratepayers
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