Research is underway to examine the viability of covering Katikati's community pool with a view to it becoming a year-round operation.

But first, Dave Hume Pool Trust chairperson Barbara Martin says decisions have to be made on improvements to the existing facility before the longer term project of covering the pool can proceed.

Dave Hume Pool Trust, chairperson Barbara Martin, trust member Jim Davison and pool supervisor Peter Allsop. Photo: Merle Foster

'Our goal is to figure out how we deliver a 12-month operational facility to the community of Katikati and surrounding areas while encouraging as many people as possible of all ages to use the pool.”

Currently, the 33m pool is open from October to early April but during the last year enthusiastic trust members have revisited the idea of covering it to make it a year-round facility.

Visiting aquatic centres, with pool developments varying in value from less than $1m to a staggering $24m, in late 2015, Barbara says it became obvious that an initial option the pool development group had considered wasn't feasible.

She says any pool cover is going to be expensive and the trust now has to find 'a happy medium to meet the needs of the community but also deliver in terms of value for money”.

'Even if we can get an economical cover for under $2m – and that may be unrealistic – we have to weigh the cost against the end result.”

The research trips have also shown that swim schools are an essential component of an aquatic centre to make them viable. They contribute to ongoing operational costs, currently mainly covered at Dave Hume Pool by Western Bay of Plenty District Council.

'All aquatic centres we viewed showed a facility with a year-round swim school catering at all levels. 'We have a situation where swimmers move to other pools when we close for the winter and there are age groups, particularly pre-school, for which we're not able to offer classes.”

As a result, Phase 1 of the project will focus on how to improve the facility in the short term. People of all ages will be encouraged to become more frequent users and then year-round users when the pool is covered.

Phase 1 looks at building a bulk head to reduce the 33m pool to 25m, to create a designated learn to swim area for younger children.

'This phase will also look at installing a ramp to make entry to the main pool easier, for both older and less able folk and parents with young children.”

Barbara says the trust has made Phase 1 the primary goal, 'with Phase 2, covering the pool, being our long term project”.

WBOPDC has a fund for the development of aquatic facilities in the district and the trust will approach council for partial funding once finishing their research.