Dave Hume Pool Improvements

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About the project

We're reconfiguring the main pool and making other improvements to increase learn to swim opportunities, improve accessibility and enable the pools to run for an extended season, from September through to the end of May each year.

This follows many years of the Dave Hume Swimming Pool Trust developing the concept of an enclosed pool, with a new liner system to reduce painting costs and frequency. The roof project to enclose the pool was factored into Council's 2021-2031 Long Term Plan, but due to escalating costs Council agreed in October 2024 to focus their attention on a bulkhead, pool upgrades and a new liner system.

These upgrades will enable the pool to have a longer season, and to cater to the community's diverse needs, including a disability hoist and improved accessibility.

The pools will have a new, safer filtration system and other plant upgrades to increase the 50-year-old pool's longevity. And, by adding a bulkhead into the main pool, we will be able to offer more learn to swim programmes, which are at capacity each year. The new learn to swim pool (within the main pool) will be able to run at a higher temperature to cater for tamariki. This new area of the pool will also have increased options for other pool users.

The improvements are being funded through existing budgets from the 2023/24 financial year and Dave Hume Pool Trust funding. The Trust will be fundraising for 30 per cent of the upgrade work, while Council will fully fund the renewal work, such as the liners, pool covers and fixing the existing learn to swim pool.

When is this mahi happening?

To minimise disruption, construction will start the week after the swim season closes and will be completed prior to Christmas 2025 (weather and material dependent).

We're going to:

  • Install a bulkhead in the main 33.3m pool to create two pools - a 25m pool and 7m learn to swim pool
  • Upgrade the existing bore water heater exchanger for the new learn to swim pool, to keep it at a warmer temperature
  • Re-line all three pools with a PVC material, instead of painting, to reduce operational costs
  • Put new sand filtration systems in for all three pools
  • Upgrade the existing learn to swim pool to meet current pool safety and water quality standards
  • Heat and insulate the changing rooms and reception area to help extend the pool season
  • Get new pool covers for all pools
  • Install a disability hoist in the main pool
  • Install new doors at the entrance (car park door only), and new doors to changing rooms (for heating purposes)
  • Upgrade CCTV cameras

For operational information, including opening hours, swimming programmes, and admission prices, please visit the Dave Hume Pool website.


What's happening now? (26 September)

There's plenty happening on site, with work on track to be completed in time for the summer holidays. Here's what we've been up to lately:

  • Sand filters are in place in the plant room
  • Pressure testing of pipes completed - and passed
  • Concrete surfaces are being reinstated
  • The reinject bore is underway
  • The pool liner and gutter system are on their way from Italy

Next up, we'll be connecting underground pipes to the sand filters, removing the office cabinets and recycling them into the new staff room, and building the bulkhead.




Reinstatement of the site and the new concrete surfaces is progressing well.




Works for the reinject bore is underway - this means water taken from the geothermal aquifer is returned, which is a great outcome for the sustainability of this aquafer and the environment.




New sand filters in the plant room.




About the project

We're reconfiguring the main pool and making other improvements to increase learn to swim opportunities, improve accessibility and enable the pools to run for an extended season, from September through to the end of May each year.

This follows many years of the Dave Hume Swimming Pool Trust developing the concept of an enclosed pool, with a new liner system to reduce painting costs and frequency. The roof project to enclose the pool was factored into Council's 2021-2031 Long Term Plan, but due to escalating costs Council agreed in October 2024 to focus their attention on a bulkhead, pool upgrades and a new liner system.

These upgrades will enable the pool to have a longer season, and to cater to the community's diverse needs, including a disability hoist and improved accessibility.

The pools will have a new, safer filtration system and other plant upgrades to increase the 50-year-old pool's longevity. And, by adding a bulkhead into the main pool, we will be able to offer more learn to swim programmes, which are at capacity each year. The new learn to swim pool (within the main pool) will be able to run at a higher temperature to cater for tamariki. This new area of the pool will also have increased options for other pool users.

The improvements are being funded through existing budgets from the 2023/24 financial year and Dave Hume Pool Trust funding. The Trust will be fundraising for 30 per cent of the upgrade work, while Council will fully fund the renewal work, such as the liners, pool covers and fixing the existing learn to swim pool.

When is this mahi happening?

To minimise disruption, construction will start the week after the swim season closes and will be completed prior to Christmas 2025 (weather and material dependent).

We're going to:

  • Install a bulkhead in the main 33.3m pool to create two pools - a 25m pool and 7m learn to swim pool
  • Upgrade the existing bore water heater exchanger for the new learn to swim pool, to keep it at a warmer temperature
  • Re-line all three pools with a PVC material, instead of painting, to reduce operational costs
  • Put new sand filtration systems in for all three pools
  • Upgrade the existing learn to swim pool to meet current pool safety and water quality standards
  • Heat and insulate the changing rooms and reception area to help extend the pool season
  • Get new pool covers for all pools
  • Install a disability hoist in the main pool
  • Install new doors at the entrance (car park door only), and new doors to changing rooms (for heating purposes)
  • Upgrade CCTV cameras

For operational information, including opening hours, swimming programmes, and admission prices, please visit the Dave Hume Pool website.


What's happening now? (26 September)

There's plenty happening on site, with work on track to be completed in time for the summer holidays. Here's what we've been up to lately:

  • Sand filters are in place in the plant room
  • Pressure testing of pipes completed - and passed
  • Concrete surfaces are being reinstated
  • The reinject bore is underway
  • The pool liner and gutter system are on their way from Italy

Next up, we'll be connecting underground pipes to the sand filters, removing the office cabinets and recycling them into the new staff room, and building the bulkhead.




Reinstatement of the site and the new concrete surfaces is progressing well.




Works for the reinject bore is underway - this means water taken from the geothermal aquifer is returned, which is a great outcome for the sustainability of this aquafer and the environment.




New sand filters in the plant room.