KEY POINTS:
Entry costs are rising and expansion plans are falling at swimming pools across Auckland City.
From this Labour Weekend, casual adult entry fees will go up by 20 cents at seven swimming pools and by the same amount for children at the Parnell Baths and Tepid Baths.
It is the first price increase in 10 years and follows escalating costs for the city's 12 pools. Similar price increases will occur annually to take account of inflation. The council currently subsidises pools to the tune of $1.4 million a year.
But while the price rises will bring the inevitable grizzles, the bigger picture for the city's swimming pools is less rosy.
New swimming pools at Avondale and Otahuhu are in doubt and shaving $6.6 million off an upgrade of the popular outdoor Pt Erin pool is an option.
The ruling bloc of Mayor John Banks and Citizens & Ratepayers are taking a razor blade to council spending to hold rates to the council's rate of inflation as part of a new 10-year budget.
Capital projects not already under way face the toughest test, including swimming pools. Hardest pressed will be a new $15 million swimming pool for Avondale. Question marks also hang over a new $15.6 million swimming pool for Otahuhu that had C&R backing as recently as this year and for which design work has started.
Plans for making Pt Erin a year-round indoor pool are doubtful with council officers talking of a potential saving of $6.6 million. The pool is likely to get improvements to the existing plant and facilities and could be the site of a citywide aquatic playground.
A $22.9 million restoration of the historic Tepid Baths is believed to be relatively assured.
City Vision-Labour leader Richard Northey said the only way C&R could hold rates to council inflation was not to proceed with any new projects.
Mr Northey said so long as the C&R political view prevailed, city facilities, like swimming pools, would get basic maintenance but stagnate for the next 10 years.
He recognised there was a substantial cost to keeping swimming pools up to a good quality and extending them to suburbs with a growing population, but said it was essential for the health, well-being and recreational opportunities for children and adults.
C&R councillor Greg Moyle, who chairs the arts, culture and recreation committee, said he believed swimming pools were a core council service.
The first priority was to maintain the existing swimming pools and there was a commitment to increase the stock and make improvements.
He understood the desire of Avondale and Otahuhu people for new pools, but said it was a question of where the money would come from.
Mr Moyle said one option he would support was targeted rates on those communities to pay for a new pool.
"City Vision people are lovely people but they kind of never think that somebody has to pay for their programmes and think the goodwill of the ratepayer is endless."
NEW PRICES
* Adult entry price up 20c to $5.20 at Onehunga War Memorial Pool, Lagoon Leisure and Fitness Centre, Glen Innes Pool, Cameron Pool and Pt Erin Pool. Child entry price remains at $2.50.
* Adult entry price up 20c to $5.70 at Parnell Baths and Tepid Baths. Child entry price up 20c to $3.70.
* No change at Mt Eden Pool (adults $4, children $3), Olympic Pool and Fitness Centre (adults $7, children $4.50), Philips Aquatic Centre (adults $7, children $5), Sacred Heart College (adults $5, children $3), Grey Lynn paddling pool (free entry).
