Milestone opening for Lyttelton's summer pool

With the opening of Lyttelton’s Norman Kirk Memorial Pool at 11am on Friday 20 February, Christchurch has a full complement of outdoor pools for the first time since before the 2011 earthquakes.

Work to rebuild Lyttelton’s only public swimming pool began in June 2014 and involved replacing the quake-damaged pool, changing rooms, office plant and equipment. David Adamson, Director Council Facilities and Infrastructure Rebuild with Christchurch City Council, says this moment has been a long time coming for the Lyttelton community.

“Before the quakes, the Norman Kirk Memorial Pool would attract more than 7000 visitors during the summer months, so it’s been an absolutely key facility for Lyttelton which they’ve had to go without for four years. Its reopening is a milestone in Lyttelton’s rebuild and rejuvenation, and it couldn’t come soon enough.”

The comeback will be marked by the Lyttelton Lives On pool party on Saturday 28 February, noon–3pm.

“We’ve managed to get it up and running just in time for the tail-end of summer,” Mr Adamson says. “It’s a great way to see out what’s been a great season for the Council’s pools, both in terms of weather and in terms of the reopenings around the city.

“We’re also looking forward to the return of the school and preschool children who have always been great supporters of the Norm Kirk facility.”

Scarborough Paddling Pool was the first of the Council’s outdoor pool rebuild/repair projects to open this summer, and was shortly joined by Waltham Lido Pool. With the reopening of Norman Kirk Memorial Pool, all five of the Council’s outdoor pools are back in action. Jellie Park, Halswell and Templeton pools were undamaged in the earthquake.

Repair work was also undertaken on the Norman Kirk Memorial Pool site's earthquake-damaged retaining walls. The new pool meets 100 per cent of the New Building Standard (NBS).

- ends -

© Scoop Media