Successful first full season for MainPower Amberley Pool

New friendships and improved fitness have gone hand in hand for MainPower Amberley Pool’s first full season.

The pool closed for the season on Sunday 23 April and it is expected to re-open in October.

Hurunui District Council Customer Services Manager Naomi Woodham said community support and “Hurunui solutions” lay behind the success of the first full season following the pool’s refurbishment and a limited opening for one month in April 2022.

Toddlers’ Sing and Splash sessions to improve water confidence, inflatables, aqua swimming/jogging, a community Children’s Day and a professional level water monitoring system had all added to an outstanding season.

“The pool is becoming a community hub,” said pool supervisor Aveai Taulamana.

The coordinated access scheme for members was shaped by the community and had allowed the pool to open earlier for members’ lane swimming without a lifeguard, said Woodham. “The only other pool that has a hybrid membership scheme similar to ours is Lyttelton.”

Members joined a Facebook group to coordinate access to ensure there was always at least two people using the facility and membership requirements included a Health and Safety induction, said Woodham. “So many friendships have developed over the season through this system.”

“It’s been great for me because I’ve been able to go at my own pace,” said Mairi Messervy, who has benefited from the heated water and the members’ lane-swimming sessions to regain normal knee function after a knee replacement.

Nicky Brooker and Jenni McQuillan have supported each other to reach their distance goals over the season, Nicky reaching three kilometres and Jenni McQuillan reaching one kilometre.

For Ian Loretz (85), the swim season has delivered increased mobility and success in reaching his distance goal of one kilometre. “Over the last 12 sessions, I have swum 11 kilometres.”

Woodham has been extremely grateful for the ongoing support provided to the facility from the team at Hanmer Springs Thermal Pools and Spa.

“We are so fortunate to have access to their professional lifeguard training programme and also the mentoring from their maintenance team which has kept our pool water sparkling and lovely to swim in."

Looking at the next season’s challenges, Woodham said evening sessions to accommodate commuters had not been sufficiently supported and would need be evaluated in the new season. “We try to be responsive to the community as far as possible.

“Finding lifeguards who are available during the week is still our biggest challenge. Many are still at university or school. The Mayors Taskforce for Jobs (MTFJ) fulltime placement gave us the ability to offer some of these programmes.”