Facebook Post From Cr Emma Holderness - H2O on Budget
Great play on words in the article. On Budget…. What about the scope and value for money for the ratepayers.
Basically, the Scope and Budget that had been agreed by the public have not been delivered against. The council has removed components of the scope in late 2022 without consultation and are now saying the project is still in budget. What about the agreed to scope?
Time for some accountability.
2018-28 - After consultation there was a capital budget of $16m and operating budget of $8.89m
2021-31 - Long-Term plan provided changes to the brief. Costs were going up and needed to be contained. At this point the Capital budget was up to $27m Capital. 55% was going to be from rates and 45% from Recoveries (Pool Usage)
When work started there was Covid and the price went up to $51m. A review was done, and a 1 stage delivery was chosen which was the cheaper option, there was a 2 stage delivery option which was not chosen.
When the work started, they found the issues with the roof. Costings were between $2m and $4m. On 13/12/2023 extra increase of $4m was approved by council. So cost was then $55m but now excluded the hydrotherapy pool and Cafe.
The point was raised from the community. If they overspent, they could not spend on other non-essential things. Also now the city is up for another $13.06m cost as stated in the 2024 – 2034 LTP for scope which should have been included to start with.
For example: You agree for a builder to build you a 5 br home for $700,000. You then receive a 2br home for $700,000.. Is this still on Scope and Budget.
Reference to council meeting where they cut scope.
Item where the council says it does not want to increase costs as it would affect other initiatives.
H2O Now estimated project Value of $55m however this excludes the $13m Hydropool and other parts of the pool which willbe in stage 2. However Submitters estimated final cost of $90m once finished. Will add the video reference when we find it.
More Water Space in a Water Crisis
In a time of water crisis the pool will have 49% more water space which will require so much more water to fill and maintain.
Page 1 of the H2O Xtreme Upgrade document.
The full upgrade will result in an increase of approximately 49% more water space and 55% more floor space79% agreed to a $45m Upgrade in 2021.
79% of 889 responses is 702 people supported this.
New Olympic sized pool could rejuvenate Naenae
Nicholas Boyack
July 30, 2024
A $68 million Olympic sized pool is expected to be a drawcard for Naenae, bringing in people who have not visited the Lower Hutt suburb before, the council says.
The Naenae pool was closed in 2019 after it was found to be earthquake prone and the state of the art replacement pool is set to re-open later this year.
On Friday, councillors were shown around the facility, which includes a 10 lane Olympic sized pool, a hydro slide, a leisure pool and a gym.
With seating for 600 and two moveable bulkheads in the main pool, a range of water sports including water polo and canoe polo are catered for.
The project has a budget of $68m, with $27m coming from the Covid Response and Recovery fund.
The soon to be opened Naenae Pool will feature a 10 lane Olympic sized pool.
NICHOLAS BOYACK / THE POST
Mayor Campbell Barry said that the pool would be a major asset for the Wellington region, as well as boosting the Naenae economy.
“There are a number of water sports that are keen to get in and use the new facility.”
The old pool was demolished in 2021 and Barry noted that construction of the new facility had been during a period where the cost of major projects nationally had skyrocketed.
It had remained within budget and Barry said the contractors had done a good job in difficult circumstances.
The new Naenae Pool will also feature a hydro slide, a leisure pool and a gym.
NICHOLAS BOYACK / THE POST
“I am very pleased it is on time and on budget, which is unique for a project of this size (in the current economic climate).”
The nearby shopping centre is struggling, with many empty shops, and although Barry said the pool will not be a “silver bullet” for retailers it will make a positive difference.
“I have no doubt this will bring in tens of thousands of people who have never been to Naenae before.”
Although critics have raised concerns about the cost of running the pool, Barry said it was a major community asset and council pools across the country ran at a loss.
The new Naenae Pool is recreating a feature of the old pool, two zoom tubes.
SUPPLIED
However, he said there was significant public good in swimming pools, and like all council pools it will be funded by both ratepayers (60%) and user pays (40%).
The modern plant being installed to run the pool would be much more efficient, which would significantly reduce operational costs.
The council hoped it will be the first aquatic centre in New Zealand to have a Green Star Five rating.
Contractors recycled or reused 90% of all building materials, saving more than 13,000 tonnes of scrap metal and concrete from going to landfill. Concrete from the original pool bleachers was crushed on site and re-used to fill the pool void.
Although it still looked very much like a construction site, contractors said it will be open by the end of the year.
The new pool is not the only good news for Naenae. The council recently opened the Te Mako Naenae Community Centre in the old Post Office building, which has been earthquake strengthened and restored.
