Why Is Tauranga’s Memorial Park Aquatic Centre So Expensive?
I’m wondering why Tauranga’s planned $123 million Memorial Park Aquatic Centre is going to cost the city’s ratepayers so much more than other comparable NZ councils’ aquatic centres?
The annual operating costs will be $12.5 million – that currently equates to more than $200 per ratepayer per year, for this one facility!
Has Tauranga City Council chosen the wrong design and the wrong location for its pool? Is it so expensive because Memorial Park has geotechnical issues that require expensive foundations?
Compare the cost of the Memorial Pool upgrade to these other NZ aquatic facilities being planned or built right now:
1) Tauranga
$123M for 25m Memorial indoor pool + aquatic & fitness centre + hydroslides + café.
Annual cost to ratepayers: $12.5M
Worse, TCC’s plan may also require it to close Otumoetai Pool, because the Council said it can’t afford to keep running that community pool as well.
Click here for Memorial Aquatic Centre Business Case
2) Naenae (Lower Hutt)
$68M for 50m indoor heated pool + aquatic & fitness centre with Greenstar-5 rating and all the bells and whistles, which will be completed this year. TCC will pay nearly twice as much for a comparable facility with a main pool that’s only half the size!
Annual cost to ratepayers: will be released this month
https://www.huttcity.govt.nz/council/our-projects/naenae-projects/naenae-pool-and-fitness-centre2
https://wellington.scoop.co.nz/?p=160609
3) Hastings
$32M for a “world class” indoor Hawke’s Bay Regional Aquatic Centre that opened in August 2022 with fully accessible 50m pool + 25m pool + 2 other pools, all heated. It also has sustainability features and seating for 2500.
https://www.1news.co.nz/2022/08/11/world-class-aquatic-centre-opens-in-hawkes-bay/
4) Thames
$42.5M to $77M for a new Aquatic Centre – either:
(a) $42.5M for a new 25m indoor pool + 4 other heated indoors pools, or
(b) $77.0M for a new 25m indoor pool + 4 other heated indoors pools + hydroslide + café + fitness centre.
Annual cost to ratepayers: $1M to $1.5M
www.tcdc.govt.nz/Our-Community/Council-Projects/Current-Projects/Thames-Aquatic-Facilities-Project
5) Kaitaia
$11.5M for just-opened Te Hiku Sports Hub including indoor aquatic centre with 25m pool + 3 other heated pools + gym + underfloor heating
6) Te Puke
$17M for proposed new 25m indoor pool is budgeted by Western Bay of Plenty District Council in 2028.
Click here for Western BOP Council Draft Plan
If elected, I’ll push for a review of the Memorial Aquatic Centre project to ensure good value for ratepayers.