South Wairarapa councillors will consider closing Greytown, Martinborough and Featherston pools at its meeting today, after it was revealed it will cost more than $733,000 to keep them open.
An independent report commissioned after a fibreglassing company estimated in June that it would cost $634,000 to bring the pools upto scratch will be discussed today, and outlines several options.
They are: contracting operation of the pools out, completing the minimum maintenance, joining with another council to provide the service, upgrading one pool completely and closing the other two, closing all three pools, or carrying out reactive or statutory maintenance.
Over the next 10 years, Greytown pool would cost $245,000, Featherston $252,000 and Martinborough $237,000.
A number of maintenance issues and costs were identified, including new pool covers, retiling, repainting, resealing and replacing parts.
There is no pool water sampling plan, there is a lack of staff training in pool management and correct testing practices, no audit process by council staff on the testing, and no external lab sampling including microbiological analysis.
