Raetihi pool roof plans drawn

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 6, Issue 298, 4 August 1989, Page 2

Raetihi pool roof plans drawn

Now's the time to think about swimming - for a Raetihi based group that is.

Chills Off is a group of fund raisers whose aim is to rake up enough money to enclose the Raetihi baths so the swimming season can be extended. Group spokesman Lance Langdon this week showed the Bulletin the prelim-

inary drawings for the enclosure, which will mean the swimming season for Ohakune and Raetihi folk will be more than three times longer. That is, from October to June instead of just two months. To swim for twelve months of the year the

pool would need to be heated, but at this stage the group is concentrating on the enclosure project. Mr Langdon said his group has met with the swimming club to discuss the drawings, who have endorsed the plans

with just some minor alterations. The architects are now completing working drawings and costings for the project. Chills Off have so far raised $23,000 and have $3000 more pledged to them. They have applied to the Dudding Trust for more funds and they should

have an answer within the next few months. They are also approaching the District Council for final approval of the plans and possibly for funds, said Mr Langdon. The building would be 42 metres by 26 metres, of wooden

construction with a truss roof and duralite roofing. A feature of the construction will be a large space in the roof structure around the diving area to fit in with Olympic diving specifications for the three metre board. Construction time for the project will be five

months from start time, says Lance. Putting a roof over the heads of swimmers should raise the pool temperature by 10 dcgrees, he said. A further possibility in the construction is incorporating an existing solar heating sys-

tem in the roof. The system has not been effective, said Lance, because there is no way to drain it and freezing in winter has damaged it. As an example of the effectiveness of such a v project, Lance cites the Stratford pool which was covered recently, raising the pool use by

400 per cent. He says the extra revenue from pool users would far exceed the extra running costs. Chills Off aim to raise all the funds necessary for the project without borrowing. Their target is $120,000.