Central Lakes Trust chief executive Paul Allison just could not resist.
Yes, the trust did indeed ''splash out'' big time yesterday when it announced a grant of $1million to the new $12million Wanaka swimming pool.
The grant is the first contribution to the public fundraising effort that is intended to reduce the financial impact of the new pool on Wanaka ratepayers.
Construction of the pool in the new Three Parks subdivision on the outskirts of Wanaka is expected to begin in January.
Mr Allison said the pool had been a ''contentious issue'' but following the Queenstown Lakes District Council's decision to proceed with it earlier this year, the trust was pleased to provide funding to help an important project become a reality.
Mr Allison said the trust had provided more than $75million for community projects in the Central Otago and Lakes districts since it was established in 2000, including $4million for four other aquatic facilities between 2001 and 2008 and 16 grants of a million dollars.
The grants are profits from the trust's investments and its company, Pioneer Generation.
Deputy mayor Lyal Cocks, who is spearheading the fundraising programme, said the new pool would ''help drive'' participation in recreational swimming and learn-to-swim programmes and would ensure growth in the local swimming club.
''It is anticipated it will attract some international swim groups and triathletes to Wanaka for training camps and also those who use the pool for therapy,'' he said.
The pool building will contain an 8-lane lap pool, a learners' pool and a spa pool.
Mr Cocks said yesterday it was hoped the sports facility would be finished in June next year and the pool in December.
Trust chairman Malcolm Macpherson, of Alexandra, said after the loss of his town's popular outdoor pool through flooding in 1999, the trust helped fund a new indoor pool.
As in Wanaka, there were those who doubted the wisdom of the project, particularly people who preferred an outdoor pool and those who believed the new pool would not get enough use in winter.
Dr Macpherson said Alexandra's pool had proven to be busier in the winter than in the summer, and the indoor pool was preferred to the outdoor pool even in summer.
He acknowledged the Wanaka pool had been contentious.
''My experience with big landmark projects like this is that a bit of wrangling in the concept and design stage often yields a much better project.
''It took ages, and lots of redesign and re-budgeting to get the Alexandra pool completed, and the consensus was that the project benefited as a result.''
