Pools-closing proposal draws flak

Press, 12 April 1979, Page 34

Pools-closing proposal draws flak

Water-sports adminstrators were unanimous yesterday in their criticism of a Christchurch City Council proposal to close Queen Elizabeth II Park pools for three months this winter to save fuel oil and electricity costs. Mr M. R. Duckmanton, chairman of the Amateur Swimming Association, sitid the Christchurch City Council had failed to recognise the work of its most recent appointments. “They have appointed a recreation officer to develop the swimming side of things among the council facilities and I understand she is having results,” he said. “Now it appears they are going to run the school holiday programmes, then close down. “It concerns me that the community side of swimming will be robbed of its only facility.”

Mr Duckmanton said his association was investigating training projects for next year, some involving the bringing of overseas persons to New Zealand. These plans might be thrbwn into disarray if the pools were closed. Mr C. E. Rowe, president of the Canterbury Amateur Swimming Centre, said there were three reasons for the pools to remain open. —They were a public facility which should be available to the public. — Children had to learn to swim. — No other facility was available for water sports. A compromise which his centre could accept was the closing of the 50m pool, with swimmers using the training pool and the Wharenui pool. But this would: be expensive. “But we have expressed! concern that we cannot lose

the diving pool in any shape or form,” said Mr Rowe. “Already we have considerable problems in allocating it to the three sports, water polo, diving, and synchronised swimming, which can play and train nowhere else. “Just look at the New Zealand junior team going to California with nine of them from Canterbury: the reason they are doing so well is because of this facility.” Mr Rowe criticised the publicity and attention given to the City Council’s two main public facilities. "What does the Town Hall balance sheet look like?” The attitude seems to be to blow one up, to play the other down.” Mr J. P. de Malmanche, the national diving coach last year, said he was not happy with the proposal. His squad, currently about 17 strong, trained through the winter three nights a week for an hour and a half each night. It also had a monthly competition starting next month. Mr W. R. Williamson, chairman of the Canterbury Water Polo Board, said it would be tragic if the pool closed. “Just this week we have had enquiries from the schools again: they find the water-polo off-season their best competitive time because of the summer break, examinatins, and restarting school near the end of the summer sports season.” Other means of conserving fuel costs were suggested.

Mr Williamson said that the pools’ temperatures were too high. Heating costs could be saved by lowering the temperature. Another suggestion was that the heating be turned off in the summer.