Dunedin physiotherapy pool faces closure

Facing a $1 million bill to upgrade its physiotherapy pool, the Otago Therapeutic Pool Trust (OTPT) plans to close the facility in December.

Claiming that the Otago Therapeutic Pool is too expensive to run, and with major user the Southern District Health Board unwilling to contribute more than its current input of around $100,000 each year (which meets the pool's annual operating shortfall), the Trust faces having to close the facility.

Built in 1946, the Otago Therapeutic Pool has a category two listing with Heritage New Zealand (formerly New Zealand Historic Places Trust).

OTPT Secretary-Treasurer Neville Martin told the Otago Daily Times that the Trust would appeal to Health Board members to save the pool on the basis of the wide health and amenity benefits it provides to Dunedin.

The Health Board uses the pool for its own physiotherapy patients while the pool is used by more than 20 organisations and receives up to 40,000 visits each year from members of the public.

Martin explained "the nub of the problem is who's going to pay the $100,000 (shortfall)? If the Board isn't then who is?"

The Trust also plans to liaise with the Dunedin City Council over possible solutions.

Running costs for the Pool are around $150,000 a year.

Pool users have begun a Facebook campaign to fight the closure of the Pool. Click here to visit the Save Dunedin Physio Pool page.