£30,000 Olympic Pool?

Taupo Times, Volume XIV, Issue 56, 20 July 1965, Page 1

£30,000 Olympic Pool?

Taupo Swimming Club is investigating the possibiiity of building an Olympic size swimming pool, perhaps in the vicinity of the AC Baths. The cost for the 165ft. x 50ft. pool would be about £30,000. This would include the cost of the pool and filtration plant only. Means of raising the money have not been decided on, but there has been a suggestion from the publicity officer for the club, Mr R. Condon, that the Taupo Borough Council Domain Board could partly finance the project

At present there is no pool of these dimensions in the Bay of Plenty. This has been a big handicap to competitive swimmers in the area, who have had to use smaller pools, such as the one at Tauranga where the championships were held last year. The club would not wish to claim exclusive rights to the pool; it would be its intention to assist with promotion of the pool and to help in raising money for the project. There was a suggestion from a member of the Taupo Borough Council that the lakefront would be a suitable

site for an Olympic pool. This was based on the knowledge that hot water was available in the area and the position would be ideal to attract passing motorists. Club members are divided in their opinions on the matter and some consider there would be considerable increase in cost over the AC Baths site as a wind protection wall would be necessary to protect the pool from winds coming off the lake. The club has obtained plans of an Olympic pool from the Blenheim Borough Council, from which it is obtaining some of its initial ideas.