Hutt City Council closes learners pool

Hutt City Council has advised that the learners' pool at its Naenae Swimming Pool has been closed to the public after an engineer's report found the structure to be below the required building standard.

Hutt City Council General Manager of City and Community Services Matt Reid says an engineer's report on the learners' pool building, which was added to the main building in 1997, has found it is now rated at less than 20% of the New Building Standards.

Reid advised that while the learners' pool could legally have continued to operate, the Council has taken a cautious approach and decided to close it as most activity scheduled for that pool can be accommodated in the main pool or at other Council facilities.

With the Council having a plan to refurbish the entire facility in 2020, Reid says the Council is now considering how best to approach remedial work.

While that's happening, the learners' pool will remain closed and an Earthquake Prone Building notice will be posted on the building while activities requiring shallow water are being relocated to other Council pools.

Other activities will continue in the main pool at Naenae with its swimming pool and fitness suite will continuing to operate as usual.

Image: Naenae Swimming Pool, courtesy of Hutt City Council.