Public outpouring
swamps new pool

New Zealand, Sunday, October 25, 1993
By Virginia Winder

Thousands of people tested the waters at New Plymouth’s aquatic centre during the weekend.

The queues were long, the indoor pools full and centre manager Julius Beck was grinning from ear to ear at the success of the free opening sessions.

In two days, more that 13,000 people visited the Petrocorp Aquatic Centre and most raved about the new indoor facility, said Mr. Beck.

Indicating the writhing sea of people who packed the wave, toddlers’ and lap pools, he said “It’s been going like this all weekend. I’m not surprised in many ways, but I was overwhelmed by the public reaction. It proves my point about how much we needed a facility like this.”

Session of 1½ hours had been planned, but the flood of people waiting to visit the new $3.95 million indoor facility forced pool staff to shorten some of the inside sessions.

During three sessions on both Saturday and yesterday, people were asked to clear the pools after about 25 minutes and move to the outside pools so the next wave of 450 to 500 people could splash about.

All weekend, people were packed like sardines up to the front glass doors of the centre at Kawaroa Park. They lined the pavement and spilled on to the road, forcing cars to slow to a crawl. They were still lining up at 3pm yesterday and a loud cheer went up when the doors opened. But many people were left disgruntled after they closed again with hundreds still left outside.

But Mr. Beck said most people were patient and those inside moved quickly when they were asked to leave. “It’s been tremendous, really. We ask them to move and they accept the responsibility that there are other people waiting out there to join in the fun.”

For safety reasons, staff were extremely stringent about the numbers inside. There were a few minor injuries, mostly caused by children falling over on a few slippery places on the floors surrounding the pools, Mr. Beck said.

During the weekend, two shifts of 11 staff members were on deck to ensure pool users were safe.

Mr. Beck said the children were mostly well behaved.

The inside pool area appeared a wild place indeed, with a frenzy of activity and sound. The wave machine was greeted with glee by most of the youngsters, especially the teenagers who hogged the floating lily pads to enjoy the swell. Others clung to the wall where the waves were biggest and the pool deepest (2.1 metres) and the wee ones played among the gentle breakers on “the beach.”

Under the umbrella fountain, children danced like farmers after a drought and, just behind, others charged through the shooting water jets or stood with their backs against the wall enjoying the pressure of warm water. The toddlers’ pool was full and so was the adult spa pool, as parents attempted to find peace in the mayhem.

All around the pools clothed people watched the scene, smiling at a crowd gone mad in the joy of moving water.

Despite the number of people who flowed through the centre, there were no reports of damage. “It stood up to the hard wear this weekend,” Mr. Beck said.

From today, people will have to pay to visit the aquatic centre but the curious can still have a view for free without entering the swimming area.

The access ramp from the main doors down to the foyer had many windows which allowed a great view of the indoor pools.