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Indoor pool ready after lockdown upgrade

Local News Sports
PUBLISHED: 9 JUN 2020
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A safer, more flexy indoor pool will greet swimmers when NPDC’s Todd Energy Aquatic Centre reopens on Wednesday 10 June after its lockdown upgrade.

Flexy?  Yes, thousands of metres of rubber-like sealant in special joints set in the floor of the pool have been replaced, which will help the pool surface to expand and flex in an earthquake, says NPDC Aquatics Lead Mike Roberts.

“Lockdown gave us a unique opportunity to empty the indoor pools and give them a much-need makeover,” said Mr Roberts.

“That included a new non-slip surface on the ‘beach’ area at the shallow end of the pool, a good clean and replacing the sealant, which will minimise the risk of cracks in a tremor.”

Up to 40 staff have been working on the TEAC spruce up since the country moved to Alert Level 2 on 14 May.

Other renovations include a new bubble machine, new hair and lint screens for the hydro slide water, a new reception counter, and a fresh coat of paint throughout the pool area and the changing rooms.

Staff have refilled the pool, which took about three days and a million litres of water, and have brought the temperature up to a comfortable 28 degrees centigrade.

About 370,000 people used the TEAC last year and revenue topped $1million.

The outdoor pool complex opened in 1963 and holds about 1.6 million litres of water, and the indoor centre opened in 1993 and was New Zealand’s first pool to have a wave machine.

The indoor hydro slide is the tallest in New Zealand, with a family slide that has a ride length of 62 metres and the higher turbo at 92 metres long.

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Page last updated: 04:59pm Thu 05 August 2021

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