Roxburgh’s swimming pool — the Ida MacDonald Punawai Ora community pool — has been scooping awards since its opening at the end of 2023.
The latest accolades were both delivered on June 13, a Friday that was anything but unlucky for the dedicated pool committee, along with architects the Hierarchy Group and project managers Inovo.
Pool committee chairwoman Sally Feinerman was in Auckland with the Hierarchy and Inovo teams at the Property Council Industry Awards when she found they had won an award in Queenstown.
"I got a text from Sarah [Browne, fellow Central Otago District councillor] saying we had won," Mrs Feinerman said.
The pool was a winner in the public architecture category at the New Zealand Institute of Architects’ southern awards and was up for the national award in November.
Later that evening, the pool was awarded merit in the Tourism and Leisure Property section at the Property Council Industry Awards.
"It was unbelievable," Mrs Feinerman said.
That there were 1500 people at the Auckland awards event — nearly three times the population of Roxburgh — made the award even more surreal, she said.
They were up against the Deloitte Centre — a mixed-use precinct including a 139-room hotel which occupies an entire block in Auckland’s city centre — and Auckland University’s Hiwa Recreation Centre, 26,000sqm of recreation facilities, including Olympic-standard equipment and an aquatic hall with an eight-lane stainless steel 33m x 20m pool, diving well and spa pool, which had a budget of $320 millon.
In contrast, the Roxburgh pool had a hard-won budget of $3m and boasts a 25m four-lane heated main pool, a 10m learners’ pool and a toddlers’ beach pool.
"Dunedin is my home town. Central was our playground as a teen. I’m a true Highlanders supporter and Speight’s drinker."
A shoulder tap from mate Gary Altenburg, who was heading to Roxburgh for his high school’s 50th reunion, was Mr Wheeler’s first involvement.
The existing swimming pool was at the end of its life and uneconomic to repair. Suggestions, including bussing people to Alexandra’s pool, were being floated.
Mr Altenburg asked if Mr Wheeler could knock up a design to take to the reunion.
"In two weeks. For free."
Post-Christchurch earthquakes there were a lot of container buildings being built and the original design was for a new pool with a small cafe to off-set costs.
"I gave him a2 boards with glossy pictures and he set them up on an easel at the reunion."
There was so much enthusiasm and people and contractors wanting to donate, they realised the idea had legs.
From that, the fundraising committee was born, he said.
Hierarchy sister company Inovo became involved, with project manager Dave Lang arranging the budget and works programme.
Years of hard work raising money followed, Mrs Feinerman and pool committee deputy chairman Rick Kristal being key to the project’s success, Mr Wheeler said.
It was humbling to see the attention it had got, he said.
"I’m pretty proud of it. The whole community should be proud, it is a true community project."
The Central Otago District Council will take over ownership next month after the committee struggled with operational problems.
Judges at the Institute of Architects’ awards praised Hierarchy for blending practicality, sustainability and sculptural design.
