The Gore District Council began demolition of the Mataura pool this week as it embarks on stage two of redeveloping Tulloch Park.

It is expected to take three to four weeks to demolish the 68-year-old building. The west wall will come down first, allowing contractors access to gut the inside of the building before taking down the remaining walls and filling the pool base with compacted gravel.

Debris from the site will be taken to the Council’s consented clean fill site near the Mataura transfer station.
The demolition work does not affect the adjacent children’s playground and pump track.

Parks and Recreation Manager Keith McRobie said once demolition and site clearance were finished, the plan was to install a new Exceloo toilet/change room/utility block plus a caravan waste disposal unit.
“We hope to have these in by early March, depending on the supply out of Auckland.”

The project team will consider options for a splash pad later this month. The zero-depth water feature should be operational by next summer.
Stage 2 has a budget of $1.1 million, with all but $70,000 coming from external funding sources.

“We’ve been extremely fortunate with the support this project has received from outside agencies,” Mr McRobie said.

The funders are:
• Better off Funding scheme: $500,000
• Tourism Infrastructure Fund (TIF): $200,000
• Lotteries Community Facilities Fund: $300,000
The Mataura pool was closed in April 2017 after years of falling patronage. The decision to demolish it came on the back of significant structural and operational issues. Demolition costs are approximately $150,000.

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