Khandallah pool demo recommended despite cheaper fix

Monday, 19 May 2025

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Demolishing the Khandallah Pool is one of the decisions the Wellington City Council recommends as it looks to tighten its belt in its long-term plan.

The decision to axe the pool, despite an alternative plan to fix it coming under its $7.5 million budget, has several councillors crying foul.

The council is meeting this Thursday to have its final vote on its long-term plan, annual plan and water reform - after hearing more than 3000 public submissions.

Other cost saving-measures recommended include introducing motorcycle parking charges, selling the Karori Events Centre, and charging AirBnB owners their own rates.

The 100-year-old outdoor unheated pool will cost $4.5 million to demolish and landscape over, or around $7.5m to fix.

The pool had been at risk of closure after the original estimate to repair it was over budget at $11m and an advisory group was formed to find a cheaper alternative.

But despite the group’s cheaper solution, the council still wants it gone, saying the funding does not improve its debt headroom position and the pool accounts for less than 1% of attendance at council pools.

The re-design included retaining the existing pool tank, renovating the sides of the pool, installing new pipe work and a filtration system, replacing the toddler pool, and demolishing the two earth-quake prone buildings and replacing them with a single structure.

Maree Newson, who sat on the advisory as a community representative, said the marginal cost between demolition and repair was “very small”.

“We're talking about an alternative of demolition and landscaping at $4.5m - that's a huge amount of money to spend to remove a community asset.”

Newson was surprised there was no breakdown of the cost estimate - which included a cheaper approach - or drawings of the designs included in the paper.

“It's really important for them to understand that there is a very sensible and very viable alternative design that can be done within the budget.”

She said people were “really devastated” to find out the recommendation.

After last year’s lobbying, research and poster making by children ended with the council undertaking a technical review, Newson said there was a lot of “trust and positive feelings” towards the council.

“To look for a technical fix that could come within budget felt like a really good solution.”

Wharangi Onslow-Western councillor Diane Calvert questioned council officers’ recommendation when the review had been successful.

“Why would we fund a review when we aren’t going to listen to it?” she said. “Throwing this small matter in at such a late stage and in such a clumsy way does nothing to restore the public’s or councillors’ trust in the organisation.”

Ben McNulty described the closing of Khandallah Pool, the tax on commuting motorcyclists and the demolition of the almost complete Karori Events Centre as “bleak”.

“I genuinely don’t think Wellingtonians of any political persuasion voted for these types of outcomes.”

Mayoral candidate Andrew Little said demolishing the pool despite overwhelming community opposition and a credible plan to fix it under budget was “emblematic of a council that has lost touch with the priorities of the communities it is supposed to serve and that has simply stopped listening”.

Little committed to saving Khandallah Pool as one of his policy proposals at his campaign launch on Saturday, as well as a reform programme to drive change at council.

Mayor Tory Whanau said the plan walked the difficult line of managing financial limitations whilst still delivering for the city.

“I know there is strong community support to keep the pool open and we will definitely be considering that when making the final decision.”

Councillor Tim Brown said despite the agenda’s length, it had very little information, and even less time to analyse and debate.

Given the context I hope councillors are very conservative and take a “least regret” approach to decisions, whether on a pool or what corporate structure is preferred for council’s $8 billion of drinking water, sewerage, and stormwater assets.“

While councillor and mayoral hopeful Ray Chung wants to cut spending, he did believe in community facilities, and wanted the council to slash its big spends first.

Councillor Rebecca Matthews said the amendment was always going to be difficult.

“We tried to spread the savings across the city and across budgets, to keep the focus on people and the environment, and nearly every option consulted on was supported by Wellingtonians.

“With a few changes on Thursday we will come up with a budget that sets us up well for years to come.”

Other recommendations

Council staff recommend the council jointly establish and co-own its new water entity with Upper Hutt City Council, Hutt City Council, Porirua City Council and Greater Wellington Regional Council.

It will transfer its debt, assets, liabilities and services to a new organisation by July 2026.

Councillors have directed officers to provide independent legal advice on retaining storm water services.

Wellingtonians can expect their rates to rise 12% this year, 0.2% less than forecasted.

Motorcycle charges will generate more than $1m a year for the council as it introduces $1 per hour fees for cyclists from Monday to Friday.