Council has approved funds to improve heating facilities at the community pools in Twizel and Fairlie.
A new heat pump will be installed to serve the main Twizel Pool, complimenting the existing heating of the toddler pool which was completed in a recent upgrade. The capacity of the Fairlie pool system will be increased and will deliver significant improvements to the water temperature.
Tim Harty, General Manager of Operations at Mackenzie District Council, said: ‘We are delighted to be able to move ahead with these planned improvements. Upgrading the heating will deliver significant benefits to users of the pools and potentially enable us to extend the season, if there is demand and our communities are supportive’.
Work will get underway immediately, however, the power supply to the Twizel pool will need to be upgraded by Alpine Energy, and there are some supply chain issues relating to COVID which may impact timescales.
Following a tender process, the pool management contract for the next four seasons has been awarded to Belgravia Leisure. ‘Council outsourced management of pools to specialist operators last season and received overwhelmingly positive feedback from users. Belgravia Leisure have significant experience in this space, and we’re confident that their community – focussed approach will ensure a great experience for those who use our community pools’, said Harty.
Mark Blake, General Manager at Belgravia Leisure NZ, said ‘We are excited to be part of the Mackenzie District and we look forward to working with Council to deliver its key objectives of a Fit and Healthy Community, and A Supportive and Contributing Community.
The pools play such an important role in the community in supporting active recreation, play and sporting opportunities, therefore we look forward to the season opening. It is important for us to be connected to the community and we are keen to engage with local grassroots community leaders via forums that we will organise shortly after season opening.
We believe in the importance of supporting the regional economy through hiring local staff, engaging local suppliers, and helping people connect to leisure’.
Key facts
- Mackenzie District Council operates pools at Twizel and Fairlie.
- Belgravia Leisure NZ is an experienced leisure management company that is passionate about connecting communities to leisure. It is responsible for managing ten seasonal pools and a total of 19 leisure facilities across New Zealand. Its systems have been developed and proven in over 180 facilities across Australia and New Zealand.
- Belgravia Leisure was successful in securing an initial 4-year management agreement for the Twizel Pool and Strathconan Pool, through a Council RFT process.
- Employment opportunities will be advertised this week and local supply arrangements will be sourced to support the operation of the pools.