Where is the Carterton Indoor Pool?

The Carterton Indoor Pool is open all-year-round and located in the centre of the town at 125 Pembroke Street, Carterton 5713. It is next to the Carterton Council-owned outdoor pool (which is only open in the summer months).

Tell me about the indoor pool facility.

The Carterton Indoor Pool was opened in 1988 having been built by volunteer labour and constructed using donated materials and loaned plant.  It is the only community-owned, heated pool in the Wairarapa and the last club-owned pool in New Zealand.

It is a 25 metre long, 3-lane pool, with a uniform depth of 0.9m (there is no deep end).

The pool and large steel shed are both privately owned by the Carterton Swimming Club and sit on council land.

The Russell Geange Swim Academy and Jolly Roger Learn To Swim School both operate at the pool site, with Russell Geange also contracted to manage and maintain the facility.

The pool building is reaching the end of its serviceable life and must be replaced. Alongside a new building, it requires improved heating and ventilation, new showers and toilets, and disability access.

What is the Carterton Indoor Pool Project?

A 2019 Facilities Condition Report found that Carterton's Indoor Pool building has significant structural and environmental issues and is need of an urgent upgrade.

The Carterton Swimming Club has commenced fundraising for a replacement building and has obtained research showing that the pool tank is structurally sound, and that future use of the pool is sustainable and desirable for the community. 

A Project Working Group reporting to the Carterton Swimming Club is leading this project.  The scope of the project has included consideration of future location options and management arrangements to ensure a business case for funding. 

A project cost of $1.7M was estimated in the business case. The club has no savings, investments, or available assets to draw on to fund the upgrade, and must rely on grants, fundraising, sponsorship, and donations.

Indoor pools are expensive facilities, and the club has to use any revenue generated through its membership and fees to sustain the operation and maintenance of the pool.

What fundraising has been done so far?

The Project has held a dunking machine fundraiser at the Carterton Daffodil Festival, Gladstone Scarecrow Festival and the Carterton Christmas events. There have also been various community fundraisers, including musical performances, local baking, and schools have done non-uniform days.

The CENTRAL ITM Big Swim was held in March – with a big audacious goal to cover a million metres to raise a million dollars. Over 2.5 million metres was covered, whilst raising more than $52,000 towards the fundraising goal, with wide support from across the Wellington region. The Givealittle page is currently at $60,813.

The Project team has now partnered with the local Lions and Rotary clubs who have prioritised this project for the next year, and there are several big fundraisers in the pipeline including a mountain bike and run event on a local farm, and a gala dinner and auction with a high-profile sports star.

What does the Carterton Indoor Pool cost ratepayers?

There has been no direct cost to ratepayers for the last 35 years and operating costs have been covered by pool user charges. 

The current facility was funded by donations and grants, as will the rebuild. 

The main cost to the community will be closing the indoor pool. There will be the cost of travel time and running a vehicle to make the return trip to the only other community indoor pool facility in Wairarapa, which is located in Masterton - most schools and some young families will probably avoid incurring additional costs by not doing any swimming lessons.

Will the 3-lane pool be widened, deepened or developed as a part of the upgrade?

No.  Apart from some crack repairs and possible reticulation works, the pool ‘tank’ (as it is known in the industry) will remain unmodified. 

The pool tank is structurally sound and has an estimated remaining life of about 50 years.  This is a high performing asset for a club-built pool.  The shallow depth of 0.9m deep (there is no deep end) is ideal for learn-to-swim and some therapeutic uses.

What other changes might occur?

The 3-lane pool will not change but most other aspects of the pool operation will change.  The pool will be more accessible for fitness, training and therapeutic use.  Access will be improved for less-abled users.  The replacement building will be more comfortable and appealing.

Pricing and charges will change but the details will not be finalised until the maintenance and operating costs for the new building and fit-out have been determined.