David Kamper with his petition to save Onekawa pool. Photo/Paul Taylor
Napier residents are mobilising to save the Onekawa Aquatic Centre from a $41 million council plan to demolish it and build a new aquatic centre on Prebensen Drive.
A petition, started by David Kamper, which has been running for about four weeks, currently has more than 1000 signatures.
Kamper said he began the petition to give the public a voice, something he felt the council had not done while making the decision.
He said a survey run by the council had shown an overwhelming majority of residents supported a redevelopment of the current pool.
"Basically constituents didn't get consulted," Kamper said.
He said the Onekawa site was part of a social hub, with schools, the Omi Gym and shops all close by.
Mayor Bill Dalton said the council had made the right decision in moving the pool.
"It gives us the opportunity to have a brand new complex with all the efficiencies that a brand new complex can bring with it.
"It would just give us a beautiful, clean, efficient pool rather than mucking around with something that is old and tired."
Napier City Council chief executive Wayne Jack said the pool was being moved due to issues of contamination, and there were no major differences in terms of community access.
"There are minimal differences in the sites in terms of community access, particularly given that 91 per cent of customers drive to the facility.
"Walking and cycle access can be considered through infrastructure solutions."
He said large areas of the Onekawa site are contaminated due to an old landfill, including with lead and arsenic.
Councillor Richard McGrath disagrees with the council decision, saying he would like to see the pools at Onekawa improved.
"I don't think we are going to have enough water space to future proof.
"Take the proposed pools out of the QEII design and lay them out at Onekawa and keep the Ivan Wilson pools that we have there that are only 20 years old.
"The likes of Maraenui and Onekawa South, across that area, struggle with transportation, so it's closer to their backyard.
"We've got to be very careful as a council because this is the biggest project council has ever undertaken dollars wise."
He said that the issues of ground contamination would only be an issue if soil was removed from the site.
"The proposed design for new pools is that they are raised above ground level and not dug into the ground because of the water table. So it's unknown to what extent it would be an issue."
Hawke's Bay doesn't have a 50m pool, but one is proposed for the new EIT Institute of Sport and Health being built in Hastings.
He said a 50m pool provides versatility, as it can be used either as a single 50m, or two 25m pools.
Chairman of swimming Hawke's Bay Poverty Bay, Keith Bone, agreed, saying Hawke's Bay needed a 50m pool.
He said while the 50m pool in Hastings would be good, Napier also needed more pool space.
"Hastings is struggling for pool space so if that goes ahead that's all good and proper, but Napier needs a lot more pool space than it currently has. And Prebensen Drive doesn't provide that."
Chief executive at Sport Hawke's Bay, Mark Aspden, said pool design should be based around community need.
"There are relatively few swimmers who would need to use a 50m pool, I think when you are designing facility you need to think of your community's ongoing needs first.
"I think the events are a nice to have rather than a reason for design."
He said it was great to see council investing heavily in swimming facilities.
"Either option would be great. Life around pools and beaches are a big part of our society, and anything that helps people to get more confidence and aware around water is really helpful."
Dalton declined to comment on the issue of pool size.
The Prebensen Drive site is based on the new QEII facility in Christchurch and would include a 25m pool, a learner pool, a programme pool, two spa pools, a gymnasium, a café, and a water play area featuring an accessible pool, bomb pool, hydroslide, and splash pad and water toys.
The project is in the council's Long Term Plan, and is meant to be completed in two and a half to three years.