Fight for pool

Eastern suburbs residents hold the key to getting a new aquatic facility in New Brighton.

From this week, petitions will be available at Eastgate and The Palms shopping centres.

Because the pool concept was not in the draft master plan for New Brighton, city council staff will need to be convinced to include it.

The design, which has hydroslides, a "lazy river", a pirate-themed play area, spa pools and a 25-metre lap pool, will need "thousands" to show their support, say one of the projects leaders and Burwood-Pegasus Community Board member Tim Sintes.

"Council staff said we have to get huge support because we came into the picture so late.

"They said we are going to need thousands to show their support," he said.

Some confusion as to how to support the idea prompted Mr Sintes and his co project leader David East to wage an advertising campaign this week.

"People have been asking, how do we support this," said Mr Sintes.

City council staff were blindsided late last year at a community board meeting when Mr Sintes and Mr East presented their plans for the aquatic facility on the site of the Countdown supermarket, Marine Parade. City council staff put an indoor entertainment centre on the same site in their plans for the area.

The decision not to include city council staff in the design of the facility was deliberate, said Mr East.

"'Being a bit blunt, the council design team hasn't been hugely innovative in their swimming book designs.

"The Graham Condon facility is fine but there is no wow factor.

"We saw an opportunity to be outside of the square, be unique and innovative," he said.

"It is no slur on council staff, we have just been freer to pursue other options without being steered by council staff," he said.

The aquatic facility and not the draft master plan has received the backing of property investors such as Mark Munro and Denis [CRRCT] Harwood, he said.

"The master plan is very good in a number of aspects but the business community don't see any real incentives for them to invest in it.

"We had only just released the plan when Westpac came to us and said how can we get involved?

"They have said they will do everything possible to help us because they can see it is going to happen," he said.

Mr East is confident they can build the aquatic facility within the $30 million budget which has been set aside by the city council for pool facilities from the $70 million QE II insurance money .

However, it will not cover the cost of the land.

"There will be a land acquisition cost and we have no idea of the land side of things at the moment," said Mr East.

In spite of this, both men stand by the feasibility of the plan.

"This project is completely feasible.

"The last thing David and I wanted to do was to get everyone's hopes up.

"Some people have said, 'is this really going to happen?'

"But the feedback has been incredible.

"I have to carry the plans with me wherever I go, because people are always asking about it," he said.

Entry to the pools would probably be around the $10 mark, which would include access to hydroslides and other fun park themed items, said Mr East.

"There would be a reduced cost, say $5, to come in and just use the community pool for a lap swim.

"We would have to work out an entrance which just gives you entry to the community pool," said Mr East.

You can make a submission on the proposed aquatic facility by emailing nbmp@ccc.govt.nz or online at "have your say" on the city council website.