Users of Tauranga's Memorial Pool are making a big splash about Tauranga City Council's pitch to shut the community facility for nine months of the year.

Memorial Pool swimmers Anneil Yeatman and Mary Parker. Photo: Tracy Hardy.

In its 2014-2015 draft Annual Plan, TCC is proposing to reduce the pool's season by eight weeks, tighten opening hours, and increase adult entry fees by 20cents – to the dismay of regular swimmer Mary Parker.

'I'm feeling pretty upset about it.

'They're catering more to the tourists than to Tauranga residents and I believe they should actually increase the opening to nine months of the year. There is no other open-air pool in Tauranga, other than the Polytechnic.”

Mary uses the pools at Memorial Park for fitness three-four times weekly, and is shocked to see the council's plans for the pool in the draft plan, released for public consultation last month.

The plan proposes a rate rise of 6.7 per cent, comprising of two per cent general rates and a special 4.7 per cent levy to go towards stormwater.

Council is proposing reducing service levels and/or increasing user fees for pools and indoor recreation facilities to help minimise the rates rise.

In the plan Memorial Pool's season will reduce from Labour weekend-April, to early December -late February. During this time the pools could be closed between 10am-2pm and entry will increase to $4.10.

The cuts will save $13,700 annually, which Mary believes isn't enough to warrant the changes.

Tauranga Swimming Club president Sonya Hudson says the reduced season would have a 'huge impact” on the club's summer programme.

'Tauranga Swimming Club is an 82-year-old club that has always had an association with Memorial Pools.”

The programme involves more than 200 swimmers from beginner to competitive levels, and also provides training for waterpolo and triathlons.

'Memorial Pool is our iconic outdoor, centrally-located pool within a beautiful park setting overlooking the Tauranga Harbour – and for the sake of saving a minimum $11,000, cutting the season back is true waste,” says Sonya.

'The council should be promoting facilities like this, not cutting them back.”

Tauranga City councillor Matt Cowley says the draft plan is made up of many $10,000, $20,000 and $40,000 cuts, which all add up.

The plan for community pools is a tricky one, and the current proposal was recommended to TCC by Bay Leisure and Events Limited, says Matt.

'As councillors we based our decision on the recommendation from BLEL, as we asked them what savings could be made.

'The idea is to rationalise the pools into a few really good premier facilities, rather than scattered around town. But of lot of people won't like it, as they would rather have access to their local pool over having structured programmes in premier facilities.”

Matt says discussions are still underway, and the plan will hopefully buy councillors time to have a 'proper look” at Tauranga's aquatic facilities.

'It was purely around cost savings initiative, as we move into the 10-year plan.”

The plan also proposes Otumoetai Pool is vested to the swimming club, potentially saving $300,000 to TCC rates funding.