At this week’s Annual Plan 2025/26 deliberations, the Council was presented with three key options as part of a draft Aquatics Network Plan, which will outline a roadmap for aquatic facilities in Tauranga.
The Council was told site investigations are underway to inform the next step for the Memorial Park Aquatic project. If found to be favourable, a design review will ensure the project has the right scope, design and cost to deliver value for money for the community.
Tauranga Mayor Mahé Drysdale says a community survey undertaken at the end of 2024 showed 73% of respondents supported additional aquatic facilities with an indoor 50-metre lane pool ranking the second highest feature in the feedback.
He says the initial Memorial Park Aquatic Centre proposal, which had an original budget of $124 million, was inherited from the Commission but he is keen to get a better financial outcome.
“We’re committed to delivering value for money, so it’s on us to understand what our community wants and consider what cost savings could be possible,” Mahé says.
“I applaud the Mount Maunganui Aquatic Centre Trust for bringing us the 50-metre pool option. It ticks a lot of boxes, and we would provide an Olympic-size pool for Tauranga in the shortest possible timeframe. From a Council perspective, it’s probably the most economical pool we could ever build.”
The Council is supportive of the 50-metre pool proposal but will continue to work with the Trust and undertake due diligence before releasing the funding.
Deputy Mayor Jen Scoular says the Aquatic Network Plan is looking at the bigger picture for Tauranga and delivering what the people of Tauranga have said they want.
“This supports a healthy Tauranga. We want kids learning to swim and being safe in the water. We want them having fun and we’ve now got some great options on the table.”
The Aquatics Network Plan will now be drafted and go back to the Council for endorsement before going out for community consultation.