But it is the air temperature that has been bumped up at the centre, not the 25m lane pool temperature.
In spite of attempts by pool users to get the water temperature increased, it will remain at 27.5 deg C.
Said city council head of recreation, sports and events Nigel Cox: “The team did, however, increase the air temperature within the pool hall by a degree. This may have made the difference for customers to feel more comfortable.”
“I don’t want to be difficult but the [pool] temperature exhausts people. When they get out of the pool and get changed, they get very tired.”
Stewart has swam at the pool all her adult life.
“I won’t go to another pool because this is where I live and I want to swim with my community,” she said.
Describing the pool as ‘a community centre in the water’, Stewart said it meant a lot to local residents.
“We were so proud of our old QE II. While we’re disappointed at our new pool, it’s what we’ve got and we have to make it work for us.”
When QE II Park was demolished in 2012, she had to put herself on the line to bring the pool back.
Said Stewart: “Sometimes you have to advocate strongly for changes, and I haven’t seen that.”
Stewart told Pegasus Post she was disappointed the community board wasn’t taking leadership on the issue.
This was after a social media poll in July received more than 500 responses from the community, with the majority stating the pool temperature was too cold.
In spite of this, the city council decided not to adjust the temperature due to user preferences. Competitive swimmers prefer colder temperatures, whereas low intensity swimmers and aqua joggers like warmer temperatures.
“The pool is very quiet lately, I’m sad to say,” Stewart said.
“People who used to swim here now swim elsewhere.”
She said many local residents have gone over to Te Pou Toetoe: Linwood Pool and Graham Condon Recreation and Sport Centre, which have 25m lane pools at 28 deg C.
An attitude of compromise is what’s needed, Stewart said.
“It’s a community pool. First and foremost, that’s what it was built as and that’s what it is.”
Competitive swimmers are not necessarily from the Coastal-Burwood Ward area.
“They’re there because that is the lane that they’ve been given,” she said.
“Swim clubs and water polo pay for the lane so staff are addressing their needs over the community.”
The water has not always been this cold, Stewart said. People have only started noticing the cold temperature – both air and water – this winter.
As community board chair during the February 22, 2011, earthquake, Stewart knew the importance of advocating for her community.
“We have a job to do as a selected board member. If the people come to us and say, ‘The pool is too cold. Can you do something about it?’ I will,” Stewart said.
“To have staff turn around and say that they’re not going to do anything about it is extremely arrogant and anti-democratic.”
