Aquatic Centre staff to put proposal to Rotorua Lakes Council

Rotorua Aquatic Centre advisory board meeting. Photo/Ben Fraser

Rotorua Aquatic Centre staff have formed an advisory board to help try to keep management of the centre with Rotorua Lakes Council.

Last year the council decided to outsource the management of the Aquatic Centre to Community Leisure Management (CLM) - prompting a large protest by staff and supporters.

Staff, represented by Northern Amalgamated Workers Union organiser Robert Popata, sought help through the Employment Relations Authority, believing they were not fully consulted before the decision was made.

Popata said a proposal was now being prepared to try to keep management of the pool complex with the council.

He said members of the advisory board, which met on Monday, included Auckland City Council business improvement manager Louis Sylvester, continuous improvement specialist Bruce Cheeseman, projects manager Noel Gulliver and Rotorua District Residents and Ratepayers secretary Reynold Macpherson.

"Having ex-managers, ratepayer representatives, the union and employees in the same room on Monday made for some good sharing of knowledge, expertise and ideas on how the Aquatic Centre can best provide the quality service it was once known for."

The proposal would be presented to the council by the end of the month.

"It's a tight deadline but we believe it can be done."

A council spokeswoman said the council did not wish to comment on the matter at this stage.