Multi-million dollar Thames pool project hits troubled waters
Wednesday, 12 February 2025
A lack of funding options for a possible $77m aquatic centre in Thames could see the project downgraded with council staff saying it would have a “high impact on Thames ratepayers'.
But according to Thames Community Board chairperson Adrian Catran, any funding decisions of this magnitude should be made by the district council, not a community board.
In a progress report written for the Thames Coromandel District Council’s Thames Aquatic Facilities Project, presented to the Thames Community Board this month, staff flagged a 'significant reduction“ to external funding options and council would be unlikely to meet a 2027 deadline agreed to with local iwi.
In March last year, the Waikato Times reported that Thames Centennial Pools would be demolished and the land at Taipari Reserve where it sits would be given back to its original iwi owners - Ngāti Māru.
The 50-year-old pool complex was deemed to be past its use by date and is located on an old urupa belonging to Ngāti Māru, which was to be returned to iwi by 2027.
Four options were presented to ratepayers, ranging from an approximately $77m facility located on State Highway 26 at Kopu South, to be shared with Hauraki District ratepayers, to a “do nothing” option which would still see the pools demolished and handed back to iwi at a cost of around $550,000.
The two other options were for an approximately $42.5m all-indoor local pool complex situated at Thames High School, or an approximately $36.5m indoor-outdoor pool complex also at Thames High School.
The council had factored in a 13% “cost escalation” rate for each of the projects by the end of 2027, meaning the possible $77m project could cost up to $87m.
The three re-build options would all include a 25m lap pool, a smaller heated pool for hydrotherapy, aqua-walking and learn to swim programmes, a heated toddlers’ pool and splash pad for families, as well as a spa pool.
The larger shared facility would have provision for much larger pools, a hydro-slide, terraced seating for events, a large spa pool, fitness centre and café.
“Thames High School was identified as the best potential site for a local Thames-focused facility, due to the school’s central location, easy accessibility, high visibility, good transport connections and relatively good ground conditions.
“It was identified as the lowest capital cost option among other potential sites for a local facility,” a council report states.
The report said all options would be covered in a business case which is expected to be released to the public next month.
Council staff said the two biggest issues facing the project were “a significant reduction in the availability for external funding” and meeting time-frames for “pre-project research”.
The report states the preferred draft business case option would be for a new facility in Thames, but without adequate funding would lead to “a high impact on Thames ratepayers”.
The 2027 deadline, as agreed with Ngāti Maru, is also “unlikely to be met”.
Thames Community Board chairperson Adrian Catran said the project was “doing his head in” and little progress had been made since he took on the role in October 2022.
“But we have a massive problem, there’s just no funding out there.
“This is way above our pay scale … and I’d like [the decision] elevated to the Thames Coromandel District Council - we just don’t have the remit to make this sort of decision.”
Catran said he supported the project, but building a “cheap pool” would be of little benefit for locals.
He said the community board faced a range of difficult funding decisions, including coastal flood protection, which he estimated at a total of $130m.
“That’s a lot of money for a ward with only 5545 ratepayers … other important projects have to be taken into consideration.
“We should have a pool, but it’s all about how we fund it … and we can’t allow the town to go down with the pool.”
Thames Coromandel District mayor Len Salt has been approached for comment and is yet to respond.