Sockburn site preparation to create local park
30 October 2007
Machinery was moved on to the former Sockburn Pool site this morning to clear the area and begin the process of creating a new park for the local community.
This work follows Council’s decision in June 2006 to close the facility when it adopted the Aquatic Facilities Plan as part of the 2006-16 LTCCP process. Council made this decision only after extensive public consultation.
Christchurch City Council Recreation and Sports Manager John Filsell says Sockburn Pool was built in the early 1980s and reached the end of its useful life in 2004/05 when the cost of maintenance outweighed the benefits of keeping the pool open.
“Simply the pool was old, expensive to maintain and in need of significant on-going repairs to keep it open.”
He says patronage at Sockburn Pool had almost halved in five years, from 40,000 admissions in 1999/2000 to 22,964 in 2004/05. Correspondingly, the cost per swim rose from $3.56 to $16.
“During this time, Council had spent more than $355,000 on plant, building, equipment and asset maintenance and $40,000 on advertising in an attempt to increase patronage.
“Unfortunately, shorter, cooler summers had already seen many Sockburn customers shun the outdoor pools in favour of indoor facilities at the refurbished Wharenui Pool and new Pioneer Leisure Centre, both of which offer year-round access to recreational and leisure activities.”
Mr Filsell says Sockburn Pool has now been closed for almost 18 months, the site having sat unused throughout this time. Council made a decision in July this year to retain the land as open space.
“The main pool and diving pool are now being demolished, the tanks perforated, the concrete walls collapsed and the holes filled with soil. Associated on-site buildings are being demolished and then the site will be levelled, covered in topsoil and planted in grass.”
The toddlers’ pool and adjacent barbecue area are being retained to create an area for families to enjoy picnics throughout summer.
He says after the demolition work is complete, the site will given to Greenspace which will work through the Riccarton/Wigram Community Board to consult on the use of the land for recreational and leisure activities.
Upper Riccarton/Sockburn has been identified as an area within the city which has a lack of parks for the local community.
“Sockburn residents will have continue to have access to Wharenui Pool, Pioneer Leisure Centre, Halswell Pool, Templeton Pool and the redeveloped Jellie Park when it re-opens in July next year.
“This summer, the community can also swim outdoors at the Villa Maria College pool which will be open to the public during January and under the Aquatic Facilities Plan a new indoor aquatic facility is planned for the south-west sector of Christchurch within the next 10 years.”
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