Rotorua Lakes Council to review Aquatic Centre management

Rotorua Aquatic Centre. Photo/File

Rotorua Lakes Council has confirmed it is considering options for the management of the city's Aquatic Centre, including looking at external providers.

The consideration, it says, comes following public calls for the facility to be improved and upgraded.

However, some fear if an external provider does take over, jobs may be lost and fee hikes could come for users - something the council denies.

Pool user Charles Te Kowhai said pool employees had told him they had concerns about their future employment at the centre.

He said other pool users were also worried about the possibility of a price increase if a change of management was to go ahead.

"I understand the centre needs to be able to cover its costs but surely it doesn't have to be a money maker. If it is run as a business and requires profit, I'm sure it will be local residents who will bear the brunt.

"When do we, the ratepayers and residents, get to have a say?"

Mr Te Kowhai aired his concerns on social media on Sunday.

Council Operations Group acting general manager Henry Weston described the Aquatic Centre as an important community facility and agreed it needed significant investment for its future development.

"This has been identified as part of the 2015-25 Long-term plan," he said. "Under the Local Government Act, council must review the effectiveness of its services at least every six years and a review of the Aquatic Centre is under way, including a look at current management and alternative management options."

He said about half of New Zealand's public aquatic centres were managed by external providers, including pools in Auckland, Hamilton, Nelson, Palmerston North, Whangarei and Masterton.

"As part of our review process, it makes sense to explore what external providers could offer over and above what council currently provides. Options continue to be explored but no decisions have been made nor is there any proposal to increase admission costs as a result of this process."

Mr Weston said the outcome of the review would determine whether or not a paper went to councillors and when.

However, Mr Te Kowhai believed the pools are, and should remain, a community asset affordable and accessible to all.

Entry to the pools is $5.50 for adults, $4 for seniors and $3 for children, with off-peak prices also available.

Residents have shared their views on social media about the Aquatic Centre.

One woman said it cost her $20 to take the family to the pools, an outing she did not consider cheap. Another said the Rotorua Aquatic Centre was the most expensive community pool she and her family had been to.

Many people expressed their concerns about the "revolting and disgusting" changing facilities and toilets at the pools. One woman suggested an external manager would make a difference and another said if the pools were upgraded and additional facilities added, a price hike would be justified.