Facilities  |  11 Sep 2019

Fundraising efforts by the local New Brighton community will enable some extra elements to be added to the new hot pools complex, He Puna Taimoana.

The Pier and Foreshore Society has raised $15,000 to support the hot pools development through fundraising activities at the annual Ray White New Brighton Duke Festival of Surfing. It has donated the money to Development Christchurch Limited (DCL).

DCL Chief Executive Rob Hall says the donation will be used to fund extra elements for He Puna Taimoana not included in existing budgets.

“DCL will work with the Society to decide exactly what that will be. Initial ideas include the possibility of extra accessibility features or seating, but decisions will be made collaboratively.

“From the beginning, the development of hot pools in New Brighton has been a community project. The Pier and Foreshore Society has been a champion of the development right from the start and its support has helped make He Puna Taimoana happen.

“The donation of $15,000 represents a massive fundraising effort by a community group and I’d like to thank everyone involved in making this happen.

"I’d also like to acknowledge the support of the Pier and Foreshore Society throughout the development of the hot pools; they have played a key role in keeping the idea alive and making it become a reality.”

Pier and Foreshore Society Chair Stewart McNeice says He Puna Taimoana is an exciting development for the whole city.

“We’ve promoted the hot pools development for a long time and it’s fantastic to see it progressing. We’re excited by what we see so far and look forward to opening day. The design has really reflected the local environment and taken care to accommodate existing businesses and organisations. It’s going to be a real asset for Christchurch.”

He Puna Taimoana is starting to take shape, with the roof now on the building. All five pools are in place, with fibreglass linings being laid during September. The sauna room blockwork is complete and service works are progressing well. The finishing touches are underway on the seawall and this will be followed by landscaping.

The development is just one part of a wider project to regenerate New Brighton, attracting life and activity to the seaside suburb and boosting local businesses.

DCL is leading the project on behalf of Christchurch City Council, which has made a significant commitment to the regeneration of New Brighton, allocating $19.2 million to projects along the foreshore that will act as a catalyst to further development.