Hastings District Council will this week begin work to decommission the former Frimley Pools complex in Frimley Park.
Frimley Pools, in the north-western corner of Frimley Park, was built in 1967. However, in recent years there had been a significant drop in visitor numbers, with attendance falling from about 15,400 visits in the 2018/19 summer season to fewer than 5,000 visits in 2022/23.
The drop in patronage meant the facility was costing ratepayers on average nearly $26 to subsidise every pool visit, the Council confirmed in a statement.
A Council review of the ageing facility also identified significant repair and maintenance costs would be required to keep the pool operational.
Mayor, Wendy Schollum said the decision to close and decommission the facility reflected the ongoing need to manage ratepayer money responsibly, while continuing to invest in public spaces and facilities that are well-used and deliver strong value for the community.
“Frimley Pools has been part of Hastings life for generations, and for many families it carries deep personal and intergenerational memories,” she said.
“That connection deserves to be acknowledged, because decisions like this are never just about infrastructure. They are about recognising what a place has meant to families over time, while being honest about what can realistically be maintained into the future.
“With use of Frimley Pools having dropped significantly, the ageing facility requiring major investment to remain operational, and other aquatic facilities across the district still operating at around 50% capacity even on peak days, it was no longer responsible to continue
investing in the complex.
“These are never easy decisions, but they are part of making sure limited ratepayer funding is being used carefully and fairly and focused on the services and facilities that are delivering the strongest value for our community.
“Importantly, the site will remain public recreation space, so while this chapter is closing, the area will continue to have a place for families to make memories for generations to come.”
Council sought expressions of interest in 2025 from sporting and recreation groups who may want to re-purpose the complex. While there was some informal interest, no viable proposals progressed.
As a result, Council was proceeding with decommissioning the pool infrastructure while retaining key site elements, to allow the area to become a ‘blank canvas’ for future recreation opportunities.
The work would include removing the 50-metre pool, learner pool and toddler pool, along with associated paved areas, storage shed, shade sails, barbecue, seating and basketball hoop. The demolished pools would be filled with a mixture of pulverised concrete, clean fill, gravel and topsoil before the area is levelled and re-grassed.
Removal of plant equipment had started already, with various assets being stored to be used at other Council-owned aquatic facilities.
Council said the land would remain public recreation space, protected as Recreation Reserve land under the Reserves Act. This means it cannot be sold or developed for residential or commercial use, there would be no new buildings constructed as part of this work, and there would be no loss of open space.
The decommissioning work will take place over about six weeks weather permitting, Monday to Friday between 7am and 5pm, with some Saturday morning work between 7am and 12 noon if required.
For more information about the project visit: hastingsdc.govt.nz/frimleypark-project.
