Thames Aquatic Facilities Project
Centennial Pool is sited on a urupā (burial site), with Council having committed to return the sacred site to Ngāti Maru by the end of 2027.
Also, the facility is 50 years old and is reaching the end of its useful life, with its design not fit-for-purpose to meet current and future community needs. In addition, Waikato Regional Aquatic Plan 2017 has identified an under-supply of all-year aquatic provision and lack of warm water in Thames-Coromandel.
A feasibility study into options for sites for Thames' future aquatic provision has been completed with four options identified (see below). Take a look our Thames Aquatic Provision Summary of Options document.
Work on a business case is now underway to produce detailed costings, identify any cost savings and look at options for funding. That business case will also look at the potential implications such as the social and health impact to the town if there was a decision not to proceed with the replacement aquatic project because of funding issues.
OPTION A: local all-indoor pools, Thames High School
Estimated build cost: up to $42.5 million
Operating costs: range from $967k in year 1 to $1.14m in year 10
Cost escalation of around 13 per cent ($4.8m -$5.5m) is anticipated through to the end of 2027.
Thames High School was identified as the best potential site for a local Thames-focused facility, due to the school’s central location, easy accessibility, high visibility, good transport connections and relatively good ground conditions. It was identified as the lowest capital cost option among other potential sites for a local facility.
Staff from both the school and Ministry of Education have shown support for locating an aquatic facility there. The school site also had the least technical issues such as risk of flooding or liquefaction, problems with topography, zoning and access to infrastructure such as stormwater and wastewater.
A proposed new local aquatic centre would be almost double the water size of Centennial Pool (at 800m2 compared to 430m2). The optimal facility would potentially include:
- a 7-lane 25-metre lap pool, 1.4m to 2m deep, for lap swimming, aqua-jogging/walking, swim training, school/local swim competitions and other activities such as scuba-diving and canoe-polo
- a heated programme pool, 1.3m deep, for hydrotherapy, aqua-walking, and learn to swim for older children
- a heated learn-to-swim pool, 0.9m deep, for learn-to-swim for younger children
- a heated toddlers pool and splash pad for toddlers, children and families
- a small spa pool.
A comparable development is Wai o Rua | Stratford Aquatic Centre which opened in late 2022.
However, elements of those specifications would be subject to affordability and will be addressed by a business case which is taking place in the first half of 2024.
OPTION B: local mix of indoor and outdoor pools, Thames High School
Estimated build cost: up to $36.5m
Operating costs:range from $1m in year 1 to $1.21m in year 10
Cost escalations to 2027 between $4.2 -$4.7m
This option is essentially the same as the indoor, except the main 25-metre pool would be outdoor. This would mean a potential cost saving of $5-6 million.
OPTION C: Sub-regional option, mix of indoor pools, Kōpū South
Estimated build cost: up to $77m
Operating costs: range from $1.35m in year 1 to $1.53m in year 10
Cost escalations to 2027 of 13 per cent.
This would be a larger facility with more amenities for year-round activities, serving a wider population including people in Hauraki District. As well as year-round indoor pools, it would provide enhanced opportunities for swimming competitions, greater aquatic leisure with potentially a hydroslide and dedicated hydrotherapy.
It would also have the advantage of aligning to future population growth and any potential development of a sports hub that is signalled in the Sports Partnership Project. The preferred site close to SH26 could attract tourists and passing visitors.
This sub-regional option would almost triple the water-space of Centennial Pool (at 1100m2 compared to 430m2). It would potentially include:
- an 8-lane 25-metre pool, 2m deep, for lap swimming, aqua-jogging/walking, aquatic, sports training, district-level competitions, scuba-diving, water polo and canoe-polo
- terraced seating with capacity up to 165 people to facilitate moderate-sized swimming competitions
- a heated programme pool, 1.4 – 1.6m deep for hydrotherapy, gentle exercise, aqua-walking
- a heated learn to swim pool, 0.8m – 1m deep, for young children learn to swim
- a heated leisure pool, toddlers pool and splash pad and leisure for all age-groups
- a 15-20m2 spa pool
- a potential hydroslide option
- a dry fitness centre
- café.
A comparable centre is Marlborough Lines Stadium 2000 in Blenheim.
Although the cost is substantially higher than the local option, it also offers the possibility of attracting funding from a public/commercial partnership. There are also opportunities to reuse waste heat from the nearby industrial plant which could deliver reduced energy costs.
The higher cost also reflects the need to develop design options to mitigate for a high water table and potential risk of liquefaction. The site also needs to be connected to infrastructure such as water, stormwater and wastewater, although this may be incorporated into the wider development of the site.
OPTION D: No investment in aquatic provision
Estimated cost: up to $550,000 to remove the pool from Taipari park
This would mean that we do not invest in a new swimming pool, but Centennial Pool would still be removed in 2027.
Next steps
A survey on the four options went to the public between 15 April and 6 May 2024 in order to inform decision making. Find out more.
The results of this community feedback will be included in a business case that is now being prepared on options, including a risk assessment and detailed financial analysis as well as modelling as to how the facilities could be funded. This is expected to be concluded by July 2024.