Background

Background

In April 2019 Naenae Olympic Pool was closed to the public due to seismic issues.

After extensive community engagement in December 2019 Council agreed to progress a proposal to build a new pool and fitness suite on or next to the site of the current pool (subject to funding) and to develop a spatial plan for the town centre (see spatial plan page). In 2019, pricing indications showed the cost of rebuilding the pool to a standard where it would meet the needs of all existing pool users would cost $54M. In 2021 the project costs were reviewed to take into account construction cost increase since 2019, and likely increased before building starts. It also made allowances for sustainable technology for reducing the operating costs of the pool in future years and its impact on the environment, and we need to invest more upfront to achieve that. This led to a revised cost of up to $68M.

The Naenae Pool project was successful in receiving co-funding of $27M from central government as part of investment in COVID Response and Recovery, which will be managed through a partnership with Crown Infrastructure Projects (CIP).

Council has also agreed to invest the $9M previously budgeted for a community hub in Naenae into other projects identified in the new Spatial Plan.

Naenae Pool and Fitness

Based on feedback from the general community as well as aquatic sports groups and pool users from around the region, the main objectives of the Naenae Pool project are to deliver an aquatic facility that:

• responds to the Voice of the Community Report by meeting the needs of the community, aquatic sport and the wider Lower Hutt community
• fits within the existing Hutt and Wellington Region Aquatic network
• contributes to council’s sustainability and environmental strategies.

The Naenae pool+fitness replacement project is an exciting new development to replace the much loved facility which closed in 2019. With 450,000 visitors a year, it's a valued asset for Lower Hutt and the wider region and the new facility will unlock social, economic and recreational benefits for the region.

Council has agreed with the Voice of the Community report which clearly showed replacing the pool and fitness facility is a priority within the Naenae community. Work has already started on preparing the site for demolition. The design process will start in May.

The new pool and fitness facility will be open late 2024.

More information
For more information about the Naenae Pool project, please contact the Whakatupu Ngaengae Team.
E: naenaeprojects@huttcity.govt.nz