Ōtahuhu Pool and Leisure Centre gets grand opening

The new $30.9 million Otahuhu Pool & Leisure Centre has been opened in south east Auckland.

The facility, which took almost 20 years of planning and fundraising includes to a new aquatic centre, library and cafe along with a children's playground, outdoor basketball court, community teaching garden and an open space for events.

Mangere-Otahuhu Local Board member Peter Skelton commented “It's wonderful because I know it's something that's been planned for so many years for the Otahuhu community."

He says the complex has been a priority for Auckland mayor Len Brown and the local board since they were sworn in in 2010.

Skelton added “it was right on the front foot. The mayor said, ‘Peter, first thing we'll do is go and see what Otahuhu wants,' and I said, ‘There's one big thing and that's the pool'. Then we just picked it up and ran with it."

Among a range of classes and programs, the new Centre will offer Auckland Council’s free swimming programs for under-16s.

The opening is the second of a major aquatic centre in Auckland in the last week, with the Sir Owen Glenn National Aquatic Centre having opened on the city's North Shore on 1st August.

The Otahuhu Pool & Leisure Centre is managed by Community Leisure Management (CLM).

For more information go to www.clmnz.co.nz/corporate/news/otahuhu-pool-and-leisure-grand-opening.html

Images: The new pools at the Otahuhu Pool & Leisure Centre (top), staff at the Centre (middle) and the facility's original plan (below).