Plans to upgrade the Whangaroa Community Pool at Kāeo have been set in motion with the approval of a $28,773 grant from Bay of Islands-Whangaroa Community Board during its recent monthly meeting.
Whangaroa Recreation and Community Trust, which operates the outdoor community pool during the summer months, had been seeking $33,693 from the board to go towards a pool improvement project estimated to cost over $67,000.
The project is focused on making the community pool facilities more inclusive with ramps to improve pool accessibility, more seating and other equipment for family picnic and shade areas, as well as more community swimming lessons.
The funding granted by the community board is earmarked by the trust to go towards repainting the pool and buildings, increasing disability access to the pool, lifeguard and first aid training, as well as maintenance and operational costs.
The community trust receives an annual grant from the council to operate the community pool at Kāeo, but this does not include funding for upgrades. In its funding application, the trust noted that there had been no significant upgrades to the pool for over 10 years.
