Gisborne District Council to commence Olympic Pool works in September

Gisborne District Council has advised that work on upgrades to its Olympic Pool Complex, made possible by a shovel-ready contribution of $40 million from the New Zealand Government, are scheduled to begin in September.

The $46.055 million project, which includes the previously announced Council contribution of $5.65 million, will be conducted in two phases.

Phase 1 of the main construction period will focus on the new indoor facility and carparking and will take place from December 2020 to April 2022.

It will include a 50 metre x 20 metre multi-use pool, a leisure and toddler pool, learn to swim/hydrotherapy pool, new change rooms and administration facilities along with plant and services areas.

Phase 2 work on the outdoor facilities, will take about six months and is due for completion by the summer of 2022/23.

This work will feature a new wet deck play area, a new multi-use leisure pool, a new hydroslide (waterslide), a new landscaped outdoor area to enhance accessibility and aesthetics and to enhance connection to Centennial Marine Drive and an upgrade of existing external plant and new filtration and heating.

It is aimed to have the facility, which is retaining its existing dive pool, fully operating by the summer of 2022/23.

Announcing funding for the project last week, New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said the work would deliver “the big kahuna”.

Phasing of the construction means a portion of the pool complex will always be in operation during the construction period.

Image shows an artist's impression of how Gisborne's upgraded Olympic Pool Complex will look after redevelopment.