Mechanical issues which are plaguing the Balclutha swimming pool caused its early closure on Monday and it will not reopen until next year, when a major upgrade is due to be completed.
Clutha District Council chief executive Charles Hakkaart said there had been mechanical issues with the pool's boiler system, particularly in the past year.
"It broke down in the weekend, we fixed it, and it broke down again. It's about five years overdue for an upgrade."
Mr Hakkaart said councillors at last week's council meeting decided staff should negotiate a contract for the upgrade project.
The project was still in the tendering process and Mr Hakkaart hoped a tender would be let by the end of next week.
He said full details of the funding for the upgrade project would be made public when the contract was awarded.
The council had also given final approval for upgrading the changing rooms at the Milton swimming pool.
Plans to tidy up the changing rooms and replace the roof were made two years ago, with a $200,000 budget approved. However, the cost estimate for the current project is more than three times the original budget.
The current budget of $684,000 - which has been approved by the council - means that the project would cost each Milton ratepayer an extra $34 to $42 per year, for the next 25 years, depending on property values. Clutha District Council manager district assets Jules Witt said the figures were estimates.
He said 105 public submissions were received on the issue.Of these, 64% favoured the upgrade; 15% favoured an upgrade but were concerned at the level of costs involved; and 21% were opposed.
The pool will be closed on March 15 and 16 to allow an engineer to make an assessment. The rebuilding is due to begin during the normal winter closedown and be finished in time for the start of the next summer swimming season.
