Thames pool future
Published on 19 March 2025
A replacement aquatics facility for Thames moved a step closer today with Thames Community Board recommending a preferred option from a business case of a $26.2 million all-indoor facility within the grounds of Thames High School.
The proposed facility would contain three pools: a learn-to-swim pool for younger children, a programme pool for therapy, aqua walking and learn-to-swim for older children, and a 6-lane 25-metre pool. There would also be an indoor splash pad.
Under this model, capital costs would be reduced by building the upper section of the aquatic facility with ‘structural fabric’ - a curved steel roof holding two layers of structural fabric with insulation sandwiched in between. A similar structure has been used in Kaitāia’s Te Hiku Sports Hub which opened in 2024 and is reported to be performing well. (See below for a sample image of the proposed roof cover.)
The average annual cost of the recommended all-indoor facility per ratepayer over 30 years would be around $682 if funded entirely by Thames Ward.
At 50 years of age, Thames Centennial Pool is reaching the end of its useful life. It is built on a urupā | burial site. It has been agreed with Ngāti Maru that the pool will be removed.
“We recognise that having year-round warm water pools for learn-to-swim, fitness, wellbeing, leisure and rehabilitation is hugely important to Thames and the surrounding community,” said Community Board Chair Adrian Catran. In a 2024 community survey, 81% of respondents said it was of vital or high importance.
“At the same time, the issue of affordability has been uppermost in the Board’s mind,” said Mr Catran. “Finding a way to make the pool replacement affordable to the community is a major challenge.” The Community Board has asked staff to draw up a report on funding options for Council to consider.
The business case with details of the proposed facility completes over three years’ work investigating community needs, sites, technical specifications, build options and costs.
A feasibility study undertook comprehensive assessment of 19 possible sites, and determined that the Richmond Street court site on land leased from Thames High School was the strongest local site. A sub-regional facility at Kōpū South, although also scoring highly in a 2024 public survey, has been evaluated in the business case as not viable for Thames ratepayers without additional financial support.
The needs and views of the public have been assessed in two surveys and drop-in sessions. Many people identified the lack of all-year round adequately warm water in Thames’ current outdoor pool as a turn-off, particularly for young learners and an ageing population (with senior citizens forecast to comprise 47% of Thames’ population by 2054).
For more information, visit www.tcdc.govt.nz/aquatics
For the full business case, click here