Young won't make waves for fit adults

Auckland Council aims to open Albany within a year of completing the $30.9 million Otahuhu pool and library project in mid-2015. Photo / Thinkstock

Albany's new pool aims to please its rising youth population as well as exercisers.

Civic leaders on Auckland's North Shore are trying to get a public pool designed for kids to "let loose" on playing features without disturbing mature patrons trying to exercise.

Designers are putting the emphasis on fun and adventure instead of aquatic sports for the pool, which is to be built next to North Harbour Stadium in Albany.

"Albany has changed massively in the past 10 years and the only place youth can go is to hang out at the mall," said Upper Harbour Board member Margaret Miles.

However, she said elderly and disabled residents also had needs, especially a ramp for entering the water.

It was better to cater for different types of users from the start rather than to stagger development.

Auckland Council aims to open Albany within a year of completing the $30.9 million Otahuhu pool and library project in mid-2015.

Trying to provide for leisure as well as a separate pool for education and programmes might blow the budget allocation of $19.24 million, said council recreation facilities manager Rob McGee.

The cost could rise as much as $2 million to open with separated activities but that could not be confirmed until the middle of next year.

Mr McGee said the introduction of free casual swimming for 16 years and under boosted demand at West Wave in Henderson for water where young people could play.

This caused greater tension between types of users and highlighted the need for separation.

"We need a separated space so a lad is not bombing you while you are lane walking."

Designers were looking at what overseas pools were doing to allow "kids to let loose and be a kid" and for adults to play, too.

An example was a climbing wall hanging over the pool.

Mr McGee said Albany was in the fastest-growing community in the country and the closest leisure pools were 20km away.