Councillors and concerned hot pool users met at the Mount Maunganui Hot Pools this morning to discuss on-going issues.
Kevin Akroyd addresses the crowd with on-going concerns for the state of the hot pools.
The meeting was called by long-time campaigner Kevin Akroyd, who has been advocating for the Tauranga City Council to re-vamp the hot pools due to serious temperature problems.
Kevin opened the meeting, listing problems with the water temperature that have dated back to last year, with the most recent incidents just a few weeks ago. Kevin says many times he has been greeted angrily by management and even been confronted by pool staff for conducting his own temperature tests.
Councillor Murray Guy and Councillor Bill Grainger were some of the elected members who attended, plus at least 30 members of the public and pool management.
Murray took charge of the meeting, and listened to members of the public list issues with the pools. These were not limited to temperature, but included maintenance issues of the toilets and showers, accessibility, hygiene and presentation.
'We need to smarten up our act and keep these services in good condition 24/7. We will take your concerns and forward them onto the correct people, to work with TCAL to deliver quick responses to your request,” says Murray.
The members and councillors were then invited to go for a swim to test the water temperature.
CEO of Tauranga City Aquatics Limited, Tania Delahunty has also released a statement to close part of the hot pools tomorrow, May 30 for testing.
The statement declares a leak is suspected of being the cause of the water temperature issues and staff have been working to determine the cause of the fluctuations in water temperature for the last two weeks. It was confirmed that a leak is the most likely cause.
The pools remain open to the public, subject to staff being able to maintain the water temperatures. However, the Active and children's pools will be closed from 10am on Monday to allow the investigatory work to be completed.
30 comments
More Please Sir....
Posted on 29-05-2011 10:15 | By Tony
30 winging old fart going crook because the waters to cold. Guess what people we cant afford to "Tart the placeup" for you so either enjoy what you have or stay home and take a bath but if you think we are going to spend millons doing up you pools you need to come up for air
THERE IS A LEAKY IN MYBOAT DEAR JAMIMA !
Posted on 29-05-2011 10:22 | By MISS ADVENTURE
Then stick you finger in it dear Tania ... until someone comes along to helpyou repair it. Of course you best take your sleeping bag as they are sure to be a long time to get to do anything. As the temperture range is painted on the all and so is an inducement for what you are paying for then surely htere is an issue with the Fair Trading Act about misrepresenting to consumers and the public as a whole?
Who going to pay for Kevin's wishes
Posted on 29-05-2011 11:03 | By The author of this comment has been removed.
Now that the grandiose revamp scheme to make the pools a bit like the tourist dollar attracting ones at Hamner and Rotorua, has been ditched, will be interesting to see how the revamp Kevin wants will be paid for. My guess the mug ratepayer will fund a huge chunk. But don't forget to look at the salaries and benefits of those in charge. Usually a bit of fat there waiting to be trimmed.
@Tony
Posted on 29-05-2011 11:16 | By Openknee8ted
Were you at the meeting? Do you use the pools? Do some homework Tony before you make your grandiose comments. TCAL pay themselves over $750k (this is TCAL not the staff that actually do a wonderful job at the pools in difficult conditions) a year to manage the pools and spends $230k a year on maintenance on all pools. What have TCAL achieved? Wasted money on pipe dreams, gone on overseas trips to look at pools, travelled the country looking at pools, held social events to talk about pools to their mates and then had the cheek to hire consultants to tell them what they should be doing. TCAL is a total waste of money and just another example of the TCC old boys club at rate payers expense. Every Arts, Sports, Recreation and Music event TCC sticks its nose in ends with the same result, a committee and/or well paid jobs for the old boys and an event or facility that is overpriced and poorly managed. The 50th Jazz Fest cannot use the new indoor events centre because the council has let it out as a motor home show. I thought the whole point of a motor home was to enjoy the outdoors!
@ YOU ARE
Posted on 29-05-2011 11:28 | By Vomit
The only one paying will be ratepayers ... "UNTIL END OF TIME ..." Although according tothe Mayn calander that the pain and torture to us all will be over 21/12/2012 anyway, so 19 months and counting. But of course it wil take longer than that to plan and all that, let the "consultants" have a freezed feast on it then get to do it and way ov er budget. This whole thing smacks of bungling, they already have $2.5 million approved for "maintenance" there is actually no exccuse at all for this not to have been done already. It is basic management, governance and also being responsible for thise in the highly paid over rated jobs at TCC, what do they actuially do for the $$ thrown at them? We all need a 'STAFF AUDIT' ASAP.
Please delete the Tony post as ..
Posted on 29-05-2011 15:58 | By Murray.Guy
Please delete the 'Tony' post as it seeks only to offend those to whom we owe the most (the 'not so young', with no attempt to add value to the discussion! The pool users have spelt out the obvious - It is reasonable to assume that at a 'hot pool complex' the pools and showers will be as advertised, hot (as in not cold) and consistent. It is reasonable to expect a basic level of maintenance on fixtures and fittings. That the physically disadvantaged might have reasonable access to the pools. That entry costs are affordable and frequent users recognised and encouraged. The concerns expressed were heard and acknowledged. There is no grandiose revamp required, likewise no millions of dollars. The Councillors present were Catherine Stewart, Terry Molloy, Bill Grainger and Murray Guy. Collectively we are most grateful Mr Akroyd and pool users chose to make the effort to constructively share their concerns! Now, the track around the Mount - What a rort! But that's another issue.
Time for a change
Posted on 29-05-2011 16:02 | By kiwiwayno
When is the council going to wake up and realise that the current TCAL Structure is simply not working. It's being run by a bean counter - not by industry professionals. Until the Council make the decision to contract this out to an experienced 3rd party, we (as ratepayers) are going to to continue to throw away good money after bad. There are companies out there whose sole purpose is running facilities like this - why are we wasting our time with bureaucrats running these facilities. Otumoetai is a shambles and the Mount is cold. If we continue to let TCAL run things the way they have always run them, we (ratepayers) are always going to get what we have always got. TCC it's time to do something different.......only then will we get different results.
INFILTRATION CONFIRMED
Posted on 29-05-2011 16:18 | By TERMITE
Most councilors were there but also about four TCAL staff, they were taking notes furiously, must have been difficult to comprehend most of it though as it was all new, clear, practical and realistic thinking. How could they cope with that ???
Staff at the Hot Pools
Posted on 29-05-2011 16:49 | By silent no more
Having worked at the Hot Pools, when it was managed by Leisure Co, has given me some perspective of the issues which the paying customers are concerned about. I would also state that some staff have the same concerns though are careful to whom they say them too. Yes there were issues with the temp's back then, temp's taken at the filtration room not at the pools, and yes there were issues with trying to get maintenace done. Irrespective of who runs this operation - Hot Pools, there is a certain level of neccessary/preventative maintenace to be carried out and public health standards. This has clearly been lacking for some time and is across both watches - Leisure Co and TCAL. It has been stated that the Hot Pools runs at a profit and this is used to prop up other pools within the network. The profits should first of all be used to fix the issues with the facility that makes them, to me that is common sense. Then and only then should it be used to prop up/maintain the other pools. There are some very good staff within the organisation, unfortunately they are being paid peanuts for the job, responsibilities and standards they are expected to achieve/maintain. If TCAL want the Hot Pools to remain a profitable operation and the jewel in Tauranga's crown. Then spend the neccessary money so people are happy to shell out their hard earned dollars for the experience it should be and not what it has become...
Just take a look
Posted on 29-05-2011 17:30 | By Fonzie
Tony the maintenance on this facility has been appalling yet millions have been spent on consultants and others all wasted as they just do not have a clue how to run this place Interesting to hear the comments from some of the councillors today some of whom had never been inside the place before yet sit in their ivory tower and make decisions about it from afar These are the few who bothered to turn up We cannot speak for the rest
Don't waste money.
Posted on 29-05-2011 18:23 | By Rik
If the pools need to be upgraded then it should be user pays not the whole city. should not be in taxes.
It's a strange thing...
Posted on 29-05-2011 18:53 | By tibs
Tony, In the "good old days" when these people were younger then council were able to keep these pools up to spec with a $2.50 entry fee. When they doubled it, patronage plunged. Then they intelligently put it out to Contracted Management and it's never been the same. It used to turn a large surplus, subsidising the other council pools. Others have described the fees farce. Even the Deputy Mayor has resigned as he couldn't get a dollar each way and sit on the board for the TCAL and still plump for it in council meetings. I'd have thought that anyone working at the pools and involved in their operations would have been fairly sure about what's wrong at the moment. But no, let's penalise the pool users by closing some pools while they "investigate". The pools sit there all night long, still full of water after the patrons have been evicted at about 9.45pm when the pools are advertised as open until 10pm. There'd be at least eight hours available for testing and investigation and it wouldn't harm their income stream or goodwill. Oops, sorry, council activities and goodwill are mutually exclusive, what a silly mistake to make.
MOUNT HOT POOLS TIMEBOMB
Posted on 29-05-2011 21:13 | By ROB PATERSON
The Mount Hot Pools saga is a real eye-opener! As I understand it, Mr Akroyd had for some time raised issues with TCAL over water temperatures at the Mount Hot Pools. It seems he had arranged a meeting at the Hot Pools with interested parties including TCAL for Sunday, 29 May 2011. Suddenly out of left-field comes a TCAL sponsored meeting for interested customers, scheduled for last Wednesday evening and Thursday morning at Baywave, of all places. The first hint of this meeting was last Tuesday, only one day before and no-one had previously seen any meeting notices. I was an interested customer, I hold a concession card and yet on Tuesday when I was at the Hot Pools, no mention was made about nor was there any notice of these meetings. Apparently, notices were posted on Wednesday. Four (4) people attended the Wednesday meeting plus 3 TCAL reps Messrs. Delahunty, King and a Mount Hot Pools manager. Clearly the TCAL meetings were intended to upstage Mr Akroyd's meeting at the Hot Pools and the public has to seriously question what is happening with this cash-strapped, ratepayer-funded outfit. It is understood Deputy Mayor David Stewart has now resigned as a Director of the TCAL Board. Had Mount Hot Pools ever made any surpluses, which I seriously doubt, then if those had been applied toward the maintenance of the Hot Pools over the past few years we would not be facing any major maintenance issues now but on the other side of the coin, TCAL would have something between $3 and $5 million more debt. Food for thought and what more does anyone know that the public should be made aware of (?)
Well if this media
Posted on 29-05-2011 21:58 | By Nigel Barker
I would call some one in here a 'liar' .. yep 'liar'. Now with that aside I have a question for Tania Delahunty if I may. Tania why has there been 2 "TWO" pieces of plaster (band aids) on the bottom of the Greerton Pool for 12 days?? PLEASE PLEASE do not tell me "Because they were not on the top". There are at least 4 staff hanging about "doing nothing" 3 to 4 days a week even when only 2 or 3 of us are in the pool for at least 2 hours or more. Tania don't say that is not true. Please don't say that. WHY?? you ask. Well I spend many hours a week there, & because it is not my wish to show you or the pool management up. I am only seeking an honest answer. Thanks in anticipation. * * * P.S. of course I do understand the cost of an answer may prohibit your reply as advised by the TCC CEO.
Openknee8ted
Posted on 29-05-2011 22:09 | By Nigel Barker
You are really one sick sick dude mate with comments like that. Why?? Because our "leaders"(sic)know better mate. Just ask them. How dam simple does it have to be?? What is amazing me is the lack of concern by the people. Maybe .. just maybe it is us simple dudes, the ones that post here that are the problem. Gotta tell ya that I am starting to err on the side of not giving a *%&#%. Like why the hell care?? The Mare and his ponies don't appear to..??
An Elected official.......
Posted on 30-05-2011 08:12 | By Tony
Has asked for a post on a media web site to be taken down while he starts re election mood . ...........Your joking Murray now you want control of the media . IF my thought offends Murray Get a nice office job
To Pour Cold water
Posted on 30-05-2011 08:50 | By bigted
The name 'Hot' could be deleted. The hot is a misnomer. Just a swimming pool. Pool temp has been declining for years. Naturally. Get over it or pay up!
Rob's figures questioned
Posted on 30-05-2011 09:14 | By al pillocksworth
Still waiting for an answer to a statement from Rob a few months ago that the loss of 24 campsites would cost 200,000 pa. Need to know the answer so I know how to treat his other claims.
Eyes are for looking
Posted on 30-05-2011 09:53 | By ROB PATERSON
Pillocksworth > go back and check the blog in question and you will see you got an immediate response. You need to keep your wits about you.If you can't find it let me have your contact details and I will try to locate and send you a copy.Don't worry about the Hotpools either my summary is accurate.
Sir Humphrey would be proud
Posted on 30-05-2011 11:56 | By Openknee8ted
Take a small operation with no competitors. It has exclusive use of the resource and location. Create a Bureaucracy (TCAL) to run it. On the board you have an expert from Australia who gets paid $40K plus expenses a year to recommend using his company as consultants $37k a year minimum. Pay the staff another $360K a year plus expenses to follow the experts advice. Then pay all the lawyers, accountants and auditors to ensure it is run properly. Then create another Bureaucracy (TCIL) do much the same again to run the first Bureaucracy. Then when the gate takings of the pool can not cover the cost of the 2 Bureaucracies and the maintenance of the pools, tell the rate payer they must pay more rates to cover the cost. Dump TCAL and TCIL then employ a manager for the pool.
Why spend $$?
Posted on 30-05-2011 13:06 | By Chris
Money is being poured into this bottomless pit constantly. Why is the run by TCC? If it's a viable operation (hint: it's not) then it ought to be run privately.
@ Openknee8ted
Posted on 30-05-2011 14:28 | By DRONE
Dummy and some, you listed two Bureaucracies being TCAL and TCIL, but you forgot the biggest Bureaucracy of them all, TCC itself. Just for the record the "COOL POOLS" do not make money, that is a TCC/TCAL/TCIL fudge up creative paper shuffling dream-merchant idea. There is no way that can happen, so to talk about rubbish like "use the surplus for repairs" is a DREAM! from never never land! Add up the wages, power and all the other costs, then to kill it off completely add all the Bureaucracy x 3 lots and if you are still not 'converted" add the $30m odd debt (Baywave mostly). No chance of a profit here mate, never was, never will be.
YES MINISTER
Posted on 30-05-2011 15:41 | By YOGI
Looks like 'humpfree" is aove and well. Fact: if pool staff are on the minimum pay, and the average pay at TCC is $70,000pa, that means the pointy heads and all that must be on $100,000 each, maybe more? With so many pointy heads runnign around how come that: - need consultants also, no need of spend ups on repairs, huge losses every year. This all smell a lot like the Bell Road Reserve, the place where they can not repair the sewer pipe.
In search of Rob
Posted on 30-05-2011 15:52 | By al pillocksworth
Thanks for your reply here Rob. Looked up the old posting and sure enough there's an answer which I missed because it is posted by a GESTUREPOLITICS as opposed to Rob. Naturally I had looked for an answer from Rob under Rob's name. Gesturepolitics doesn't answer how the loss of 24 camp sites in a camp that is only full 3 weeks of the year can cost $200,000 pa. If the camp isn't full 365 days, you can't base your figures on that. 24 sites being used for other purposes would in fact mean that for 21 days of the year (the only time its full) you would lose income. At say $70 a day by 24 sites by 21 days that's $35280 pa, not $200k. Sorry about being a nitpicker over the figures, maybe I've taken a lead from other well known nitpickers.
Those responsible need to front up
Posted on 31-05-2011 07:43 | By Hebegeebies
Not a lot more to say really.TCAL have now come clean and admitted the major maintenance problems exist including pool temperature issues.Explanation is still required as to why TCAL arranged the other meetings putting TCC ratepayers to additional needless unnecessary expense.Suddenly TCAL have the $2.4m needed( will be from TCC )to do the maintenance work which is way over the top and I wonder which outfits are going to hive in on that money pot.If the Hot pools need to close for work no matter what happens this will always be the case.Those with a genuine concern for the Mount Hotpools should bear in mind that the 3 Councillors who live in Mount Maunganui David Stewart Wayne Moultrie and Rick Curach couldn't be bothered turning up to Sunday mornings meeting.Also keep in mind these 3 individuals strongly supported the crazy Mount Hotpools Redevelopment. D C M or any other day.
Hardly a large crowd
Posted on 31-05-2011 09:11 | By JSmithington
How many complainers were at the meeting? Not many, by the photo. So its a bit rich to ask for every councillor to front up. I'm sure there's more going on in this city than the Mount hotpools. The complaints probably have a point, but as in everything you get what you pay for. Looks like the big revamp of the pools is off and given the economy etc, probably the right decision. I think council was fairly split about this. Good that Crs Grainger and Guy were at the meeting, but more important is how they will solve the problem. From time to time you can talk to your councillors by phone or email. I'm actually more impressed by some that I disagree with because at least they can argue a point and think.
@DRONE
Posted on 31-05-2011 10:28 | By Openknee8ted
Read the financial reports and do your homework before you comment and make a fool of yourself.
@ Openknee8ted
Posted on 31-05-2011 18:27 | By DRONE
OPEN YOUR MIND NEO!!!! The numbers I 'quoted" are from the annual reports + then add in what they dont want to know, that is how the hellish mess happened ... WOULD I LIE TO YOU ? WOULD THEY ? Teh answer is simple NEO just open your mind .... take the red pill!
@ OPENKNEE8TED
Posted on 02-06-2011 13:57 | By DRONE
Off the rails mate, you can read the audited accounts all you like but that just is not the truth, it is actually the printed RORT that they "want you to believe", DRONE is right, you should have taken the red pill not the blue pill. It maybe to late for you to change now but you should try.
Whatever the amount lost is, it is plenty
Posted on 03-06-2011 12:35 | By ROB PATERSON
Pillocksworth : I don't agree with your assessment and you don't go along with my figures so all we can agree on is that we agree to disagree.Incidentally I recall asking that you revealed your identity so we could determine your bona fides.As yet you have not seen fit to do so ?
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