Pool cover plan defended

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 14, Issue 643, 2 July 1996, Page 7

Pool cover plan defended

Dennis Beytagh, promoter of the plan to cover the Ohakune swimming pool, replies to the press release from Ruapehu District Council chief executive officer Cliff Houston relating to the covering of the Ohakune swimming pool which appeared in last week's Ruapehu Bulletin : Cliff Houston claims that the cost of "covering the pool at over $900,000 was conservative". This is despite the fact that council had been told consistently and repeatedly over the past year, that the cost would be about $300,000 - $350,000. I would remind the CEO that Council received my proposed Ohakune pool submission in August last year in which I stated that: "... when for a once-only investment of $350,000 the Council could bring in up to $50,000 per year." On 7 September I addressed the Waimarino Community

Board (WCB) in Ohakune and again I said that the estimated cost of covering the pool would be between $300,000. and $350,000. Again, in the Bulletin on 9 November last year I stated that: "... for an outlay of approximately $300,000 Ohakune could have a swimming and hot pool facility that would be able to eater for up to 1000 people per day throughout the year and in all weathers." On Thursday 6 June I again presented the WCB and council officers with a written indicative estimate and specification from a construction company in Hamilton which stated that the cost of covering the pool with be "$350,000 plus GST." Despite these often repeated figures the council presented the WCB with a price of $797,500 to cover the pool plus an additional $ 1 85 ,000 for the installation of a heating unit, making a

total of $892,500. At no time did he or other council officers attempt to contact or consult with me as to how I had arrived at a figure less than half the Council' s estimate even though they were well aware (through written and verbal submissions) that I had been researching pool

covers throughout the North Island for the past 4-5 years. Had they done so they would have realised that their costings were seriously flawed in respect of the type of pool cover planned for Ohakune. If they had taken the trouble to consult with me they would have realised

that the pool cover planned for Ohakune was designed specifically to avoid the mistakes made with the Trust Bank pool in Taumarunui as well as other pools in Turangi, Taihape and Marton. Instead of using a conventional type of solid building structure (such as was used in the above pools) the structure planned for Ohakune consists of 1 0 steel portals spanning the pool and covered with a lightweight translucent roof similar to a greenhouse (see photo). To have provided WCB members with information completely unrelated to what is planned for the Ohakune pool was, in my opinion, misleading. Heating The CEO states: "it was ascertained that the existing heating system is totally inadequate to provide water temperature at 26-28°C..." and "for these water temperatures to be maintained and to provide Turn to Page 8

Ohakune pool cover plan defended

FROM PAGE 7 internal heating within the building" it is claimed that "it would be necessary to install a suitable system ... realistically estimated at $185,000". The council's figures seem to be related to the type of pool cover that is not wanted. Also overlooked is the fact that, even without any sort of pool cover, water temp^ratures at Ohakune' s open-air pool have reached-26-27°C using the existing heating system. By providing a greenhouse-type cover (thus eliminating the windchill factor) only an air

heater (at a fraction of the cost) would be required during winter months and then only on sunless days and at night. Operating Costs The CEO states that: "theannual operating costs, conservatively estimated at $129,000 was based on energy and staffmg costs". Of this figure Council estimate the heating costs at $20,000 per year. However, the existing heating system is run at an average of $216 per month during the summer swimming season. This would mean that the cost of operating the existing heating unit under a

greenhouse-type pool cover would be approximately $2500 over 12 months. The CEO goes on to say that in order to recover the Council's estimated operating costs of $ 1 29,000 it "would required 177 swimmer units at $2 each and every day of the year. . .". He is obviously not aware that I have kept a daily record of attendance figures as well as water and air temperatures over two swimming seasons (199394 and 1994-95). They show that around 70-80 swimmers used the pool over separate four-hour periods in an uncovered open-air pool.

Given that the proposed covered pool would operate for up to 10 hours per day during the summer months and up to 16 hours a day during the ski season, it is obvious that the figure of "177 swimmer units" per day could be achieved and exceeded many times over. Comparisons One of the statistics presented to the WCB showed that the "average usage at the Taumarunui Trust Bank Pool is 18,000 patrons (per year) equivalent to 49 swimmers per day with surrounding population approximately four times larger". The council failed to point out

that it is situated in the hillside suburb of Tarangower and well away (3.6 km from town and 10 km from Manunui) where 80% of the population live and work on either side of SH4 and the Main Trunk Line. Also omitted is the fact that the Trust Bank Pool is closed to the public during the school year (40 weeks) except for 5.75 hours per weekday (6.00 to 8.00 am/ 12.15 to 1.00 pm/3.30 to 6.00 pm) and at holiday and weekend times. I would suggestthatthese are hardly fair and honest comparisons to make with the Ohakune poof (situated in town and within walking

distance of both college and primary school). Most board members would have been under the impression that they were being invited to compare like with like rather than chalk with cheese. Until a satisfactory explanation as to how this puzzling series of misleading estimates, ommissions and comparisons came about,

one can only speculate as to the reasons. I trust such an explanation is forthcoming. Finally, by presenting their estimates and comparisons purporting to relate to the pool cover for which I had obtained estimates, the council have impugned my personal and professional integrity by implying that my figures were suspect, unreliable and inaccurate.