Covered Ohakune Baths possible

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 13, Issue 611, 7 November 1995, Page 7

Covered Ohakune Baths possible

For an outlay of approximately $300,000 Ohakune could have a swimming and hot pool facility that would be able to cater for up to 1,000 people a day throughout the year and in all weathers. This was the concept proposed by Ohakune resident, Dennis Beytagh, when he addressed the Waimarino Community Board on 7 September. Mr Beytagh told the Community Board that he had been investigating council operated swimming baths in the central North Island (with climates similar to that of Ohakune) over the past 34 years. Theseinvestigations including the cost of covering formeropenairpools as well as attendance figures before and after the pools were covered - involved those in Turangi, Taihape and Marton. Taumarunui was not included because it has both an indoor covered pool and an open air pool, so comparative attendances couldn't be made. The pools in Turangi, Taihape and Marton were covered at costs ranging between $295,000 and $405,000 with the express aim of increasing the length of the season and the number of people using the facility. Each of these covered pools have failed to achieve their objectives and, in fact, the very reverse has happened... numbers have dropped and, in some cases the season has been shortened. The reasons have been

identified. Among them are: By depriving the pool of direct sunlight (Taihape and Marton) the water is no longer heated naturally as before and supplementary water heating has had to be introduced. By covering the pool with a Novalite roof (Turangi) the air temperature on a sunny day is stifling uncomfortable. By using a concrete block construction (Taihape) without insulation or sound absorption properties, noise (particulary of children) is trapped within the building instead of being dissipated in the open air. By completely enclosing the pools, without allowing for easy access and egress, swimmers can no longer lie out on the grass or concrete surrrounds after their dip. The plan for covering the existing Ohakune swimming baths as presented by Mr Beytagh to the Community Board (see sketch plans) avoids all these problems. The entire north-facing wall/roof configuration is fully glazed and allows for direct sunlight and views of Mt Ruapehu. That same wall/roof configuration can be completely opened up to allow for adequate ventilation as well as providing ease of egress and access between the pools and the grassed area leading down towards the Mangateitei Stream. By opening up the north facing wall/roof configuration any noise generated within the building would be dissipated and this would be further reduced by the use of acoustic tiles on the remaining three walls and south sloping ceiling. As explained by. Mr Beytagh the plan would be to

convert the existing small 1 lm x 5m pool into a 'Hot' pool and the larger 11m x 25m pool into a 'Tepid' pool. During the past several years the Ohakune swimming baths have operated over a period of between 70 and 110 summer days each year. However, of these many days are lost because of adverse weather conditions and no revenue is generated to cover the cost of maintaining the baths. The baths are costing ratepayers money for the benefit of the very few who use this facility in the 2-hour weekday period and 4-hour weekend period in which the baths are open to the public. This need not be so, according to Mr Beytagh. From attendance figures over the past three years, numbers have varied between a minimum of 2 and a maximum of 85 (on Saturday 13 February 1993). Mr Beytagh contends that if 85 people can be attracted to the existing open air pool within a 4-hour period the council by spending $300,000 can provide ideal pool conditions, a pleasant environment. Operating the baths for as many as 14 hours per day (from 8am to 10pm) throughout the year and charging realistic admission prices, comparable with other recreational facilities in the area, could cater not only for the needs of the local community but would also provide an answer to the apres ski or skifield 'closed' dayexpectations of winter visitors. In this way, claims Mr Beytagh, a loss-making

burden on ratepayers can be turned around into a profit-making operation for council and the residents of the Waimarino. The Waimarino Community Board has resolved to include Mr Beytagh' s submission for costing and prioritising before being referred to a Special Meeting of the Ruapehu District Council in Taumarunui in March next year. At that meeting a final decision will be made as to whether it will be included ordeleted from the 1996/97 annual plan.