Mount Maunganui's hot salt water pools are to receive a rebuild and upgrade of pumps, pipework and filters to the tune of $1-1.5 million.
Tauranga City Aquatics Limited received Tauranga City Council approval to go ahead with the project today at a workshop meeting.
Mount Hot Pools.
This comes after the originally proposed hot pools redevelopment project was dismissed by commissioner Greg Hill.
This redevelopment in part failed to get planning consent because of an associated $7.5 million spa development.
Today's approved refurbishment is considered a ‘do-it-once-and-do-it-right' makeover by the Tauranga City Council.
The repair work is expected to see the hot pools closed for up to five months and the funding coming from a prior renewals agreement with Tauranga City Investments Ltd.
TCAL chairman Warren Banks says the move to undertake this refurbishment was stirred by the 50,000 litre-a-day-leak in underground pipework serving the main pool.
He says attempts to locate the leak have been unsuccessful, and even if it is located, successfully repairing it may be impossible because of the pipe configuration.
In addition to the cost of repairs, TCAL is facing revenue losses of about $160,000 a month.
The 10,000-15,000 people who use the Mount Hot Pools each month are being offered a free spa if they go to Baywave.
Warren says the timing for the repairs is logical with contractor Mainzeal available.
He also says this is an opportunity to bring the hot pools up to New Zealand standards with the upgrade to include a change to 8 inch pipes from the old 6 inch ones and a change in filtration system.
30 comments
REVENUE LOSSES?
Posted on 08-06-2011 20:14 | By THOMAS BROWN
$160,000 a month? that must be the money TCC pays TCAL each month to keep the door open at the 'COLD POOLS', it can not possibly be what the public pay at the gate as that would mean about 27,000 people a month, more is the reduced pensioner rates were used, this just does not add up ?
What the #@$& is this Dozzie
Posted on 08-06-2011 20:17 | By POCO O POCO
Spell it out where is the money coming from.Mainzeal were they not the firm contracted to do the failed Wellness Centre ? and has anyone seen that contract yet to ascertain what it said .Over 5 months to do this work you got to be joking.This rubbish looks like payback time for those that had the guts to complain about the Hotpools maintenance.TCC Councillors simply don't have the guts to take the appropriate action to stop this rot or get to the bottom of it all.If the whole charade went ahead total cost will now be up to $10,700,000.Zippety Doo Dah
To Editor
Posted on 08-06-2011 21:05 | By STRAITAS
Is that statement correct "10,000 - 15,000 patrons each month
rayzzor
Posted on 08-06-2011 21:22 | By rayzzor
For goodness sake, bulldoze this white expensive elephant and put in a decent sized carpark that will get used.Hardly anybody in Tauranga uses this relic from the past and it is costing the ratepayers a b....dy fortune.
I
Posted on 08-06-2011 21:42 | By Capt_Kaveman
smell a rat over this
@rayzzor
Posted on 09-06-2011 00:38 | By morepork
I use it. And I'm not the only one. It has been a landmark in Tauranga for a very long time, long before Baywave and some of the other facilities were implemented. It is a unique facility and we are very lucky to have it. To suggest replacing it with a car park is like suggesting we should tarmac the Domain sports ground or drain the Harbour and tarmac that so we have more car parking. Having said that, I share the concern of others that there is something not quite right about this deal. The terms of the contract should be made public sooner rather than later (I agree completely with poco o poco on this) and it should be quite clear to everyone what the exact scope is and why it will take five months.
IT IS WAY WORSE THAN WE THOUGHT JIM!!!!!!!
Posted on 09-06-2011 02:14 | By TERMITE
@ CAVE MAN, Mate the rat has died, turned to dust and got blown away.
Up Front
Posted on 09-06-2011 08:12 | By tabatha
We need more transparency on expenditure, especially as related to this project. Yes the pools have been around for a longtime and are in need of a revamp, but if they had been looked after properly would this have happened? In the days of TCC looking after pools the staff all knew what to look for and how to run the pools, some stayed on but I bet they were not encouraged to use their knowledge in running of the pools. Winter is the time when people like hot pools and five months seems like eternity for this job. Surely we have local firms who could get in there and get the job done quicker and better, oops sorry have to have consultants meetings for about a month to make a choice then another month to check them out and another month to price and by then two months to do the work. Come on someone is pulling a lot of wool over ratepayers eyes I feel. We need some of those new and a couple of the older councillors stirring up some beef over these.
@STRAITAS
Posted on 09-06-2011 08:25 | By The author of this comment has been removed.
Yes, 10,000-15,000+ users, is the figure stated in the 'Project Briefing Paper' given by TCAL to TCC for the purpose of this decision.
NEWSROOM FYI
Posted on 09-06-2011 09:13 | By Hebegeebies
Hotpools were open 16 hours most days say 112 hours a week equals 448 hours a month.If there were around 15000 patrons(income about $75000) a month as alleged by TCAL that works out at 35 new patrons every hour the MountHotpools were open.As a regular user I can say this is unmitigated BULL$#!<.How about a full Audit and independent public enquiry into the operations of TCAL/TCC.Only then can it be proved who is right and who is wrong.
THE NUMBERS ...
Posted on 09-06-2011 10:47 | By YOGI
Prices are say $9/head, less for kids pensioners. groups and member cards etc, lets say $5/head average. $160,000 means 32,000 paying customers average a month, To be 12,500 average means $12.80/head, that is not even on the price list. I think Warren B is off the track here? Something is really wrong here hte numbers don't work. On top of that CEO Tania Delehunty a couple of months ago said that the Hot Pools make $200,000 - $500,000 a year ? with 100 staff, power bills and overheads ex TCC how is that possible?
a figment of someones imagination
Posted on 09-06-2011 11:01 | By CONDOR
Is this a real account of what is being spouted because if it is then it is unbelievable and unacceptable.
NEWSROON FYI #2
Posted on 09-06-2011 12:30 | By DRONE
Seems the report was leaked to the media first, not even the Councillors knew anything about it, the figures or otherwise. The more you read the worse it gets, it is about time that TCC became "OPEN TRANSPARENT and ACCOUNTABLE" however the chances of that are remote to say the least. Bring on the FULL INDEPENDENT STAFF AUDIT ! It is obvious that what is reported is not the whole truth, if it was on the table then Audit NZ would have to investigate!
Stand by and watch.........
Posted on 09-06-2011 13:20 | By Tony
Here come your Health and wellness centre .....By stelth
Rat
Posted on 09-06-2011 14:06 | By bigted
Smelly. Was the job retendered? If so when/where. Come on council all we ask for is honesty and accountability!
Wool Pullers?
Posted on 09-06-2011 14:29 | By methinks
TCAL are not transparent! Never have been! And one would have to wonder why was the job not tendered for?
chlorine pools
Posted on 09-06-2011 14:43 | By Gringo
Why anyone would want to sit in that always over-chlorinated salt pool is beyond me. Its always been foul. No loss if they bulldoze it.
Time We Had Honesty
Posted on 09-06-2011 16:16 | By tabatha
As a child if we told lies our parents got at us, they controlled the house we lived in. Who controls the TCC, us the ratepayers by voting in our representatives, Councillors, These Councillors need to read and listen to the ratepayers and so some action quickly. Yes something like this re piping etc should be up for tender. We might find that it can be done cheaper and better and sooner. TCC needs income and not from rates, it is about time a few books of ad hocs were opened so we can all understand where money is coming from and more importantly where it is going. I challenge a Councillor or Councillors to answer the questions and thoughts people have put on this pool problem asap. We all want answers and proper answers could calm the waters as to speak. Sunlive start a digging programme about costs etc.
Fiasco
Posted on 09-06-2011 16:38 | By Fonzie
This whole hotpools thing can only be one of two things Gross incompetence or a secret agenda Either way we have seen an excellent facility slide further and further down and what has capped it off for me after all the feedback forms that we have filled in for consultant surveys etc Warren Banks said he has never seen them ! This will not go away now The plebs have awoken and want answers
Could it happen?
Posted on 09-06-2011 17:03 | By Tony
Start at 1.5 milon in over runs bad weather, supply problems ...now about 3.9 mil consultants go broke + another mill , add new technology changes to catch up on , Thats gota be a mil ,Chuck a mill at the Iwi Management , staff training uniforms Might as well change all those while we are at it . Damm lets even give it a new name Maybe ....Wait for it The Mount Maunagnui Tauranga and Bay of Plenty "Health and Wellness Centre" ...Na that would never happen
Total Cleanout
Posted on 09-06-2011 21:30 | By KAMIKAZE
Pool closure time ridiculous .Losing $160000 per month from pool closures cannot be so because on TCALs own max. figures of 15000 visitors per month that is $10.66 a visitor and the dearest entry fee is nothing like that at all.The porkies have to stop. TCC need toimmediately dismiss all TCAL DIRECTORS and TCAL management hierarchy and consultants and start out afresh.After all the Hotpools are closed for 5 months anyway so nothing to lose.While addressing the carnage also get 3 further tenders on pool repairs from experts who can readily establish where the faults are.
RIGHT GUY'S
Posted on 09-06-2011 23:28 | By STRAITAS
Why haven't the "RIGHT GUYS" had a chance to tender for this repair job. Get the guys who actually install pools, get the guys who excavate get the right guys for the Job. Much quicker, and a whole lot cheaper
Ya gotta wonder
Posted on 10-06-2011 00:05 | By tibs
Amazing, Mainzeal doesn't even look to be a City Partner. Funny that they should get it at the drop of a hat. Remember when the local firms that were owed may thousands of dollars when the Aussie Pool outfit were "locked out" by the council. These people were owed money for work done on this council owned facility but as far as I know, they were never paid. Now they don't even get a look in. Strange also how we were hearing from Ms Delahunty but now it's Mr Banks. Heads should roll over this. At least they would if this was a business. I'm amazed that no-one realised that there was 50,000 litres leaking per day. We had a water main leak outside our property a while ago and within minutes of it leaking, it was obvious what was happening. Or is the "political" environment within TCAL that stifles anyone from reporting it? Also sounds like a blank cheque, 1-1.5 million, just $500,000 between best and worst. Fix for $1m and charge who knows what. It'll be like the $150,000 Library Bus Garage behind Mount Library. Also the current pools facility was created using surplus funds from the Mt Maunganui Council when they were forced to amalgamate with Tauranga and had an element of trying to keep the reserves in The Mount and not let them fall into the indebtedness that was Tauranga Council, even in 1989. Natural council body reaction is "Close it, that'll teach 'em!" They've lived with the leak for a long time but it has to be closed urgently, not managed while they call for tenders.
RIGHT GUYS
Posted on 10-06-2011 08:13 | By STRAITAS
Get the RIGHT GUYS to repair these POOLS, guys that actually install Pools, they know how to do it they been doing it for ages and they would have it done in half the time and probably hell'va lot cheaper Keep TCAL out the way and get on with it. We need those POOLS over the Winter they are a draw card to the Mount. A nice walk around the Base Track followed by a Hot Swim who could ask for a memorable visit to the Mount than that. GET ON WITH IT pull ya fingers out
Biff the lot of them now
Posted on 10-06-2011 08:46 | By POCO O POCO
Tibs : you are hearing from Mr Banks who doesn't appear to know what he is talking about especially on the numbers because Ms Delahunty is vacationing in Australia possibly on the Gold Coast? You hit the mark about tendering and closing the pool post haste.It has all the look of a payback for daring to complain.
Explanation?
Posted on 10-06-2011 15:26 | By morepork
Given the concerns raised here, we should reasonably expect some kind of statement or explanation from the Council or Ms Delahunty. The former are eerily quiet and the latter is on holiday. (How long do you think a CEO of a company would last if they went on holiday in the middle of a crisis...?) This situation is appalling and quite beyond the pale. The fact that it had to be raised by a private citizen in the first place is reason enough for an investigation. The first priority is to get the damage repaired and the pools back in action. There should definitely be an opportunity for interested firms to tender, and the process should be open and subject to scrutiny. After that, there should be a thorough audit and inquiry into what went down with appropriate disciplinary action and correction. We are not a banana Republic and we have a right to expect responsible administration without graft, corruption, nepotism, or any other favourtism. The process has to be SEEN to be clean, and if it isn't, it needs to be cleaned up very smartly.
CEO VACANCY ?
Posted on 10-06-2011 19:16 | By DRONE
Is it true that CEO Patsy is on a vacation in a sun drenched climit in Australia, which clearly has no need of hot pools and so as escaped the local whinging cretans constant barrage here.
Not too many smarts at TCAL
Posted on 11-06-2011 13:51 | By KAMIKAZE
Overrun with Ockers as it is understood the main director at TCAL that runs the consultancy thingy for the pools comes from OZ.Perhaps that's the problem if you take heed of Muldoons drift that when people took off to OZ he said the IQ levels in both countries. rose
@ DRONE
Posted on 13-06-2011 09:38 | By YOGI
Yes she is, the wheels are falling off all over the place so off on holiday we go ... must be some really nice picnic baskets over there somewhere.
NEW CALANDER FOUND
Posted on 14-06-2011 12:19 | By JERRY CORNELIUS
It relentlessly filters water and money at the same time, buy the truck load!
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