Public swimming pool plan progresses

A public swimming pool in Rarotonga is closer to becoming a reality, as the Cook Islands Swimming Association looks to access funding for the proposal.

Association president and architect Romani Katoa has refined plans for the Cook Islands’ first public swimming pool, to be developed on the waterfront at Avarua at an estimated cost of up to $750,000.

Katoa says he has identified potential funding for the tidal pool, although nothing has been confirmed.

He plans to meet heads of other swimming federations from throughout the Pacific later this year, when the idea of a bulk contract for similar pools will be discussed.

Katoa says he has floated the idea of engaging potential developers and funding agencies with a proposal to establish pools in a number of nations.

It is possible costs could be reduced through such an initiative, or further funding made available for the wider project.

“We’ve put the proposal to Oceania (the Oceania Swimming Association) and they came back with some positive feedback from other Pacific nations that don’t have a public swimming pool. They’re all in the same boat and looking at doing similar things.”

Katoa says he and other Pacific swimming organisation representatives may develop a “package deal” to contact international pool developers about.

“So we can each get a pool for a competitive price.”

Discussion will progress when swimming leaders gather in Shanghai for the 2011 world championships in July.

Katoa says in the meantime he will continue to seek buy-in from the local community as well as the government.

He hopes to finalise a proposal to put before cabinet, which would include things such as an Environment Impact Assessment.