Alexandra’s outdoor swimming pool may close to pay for the Central Otago District Council taking over ownership of the new one in Roxburgh.

The Risk and Audit Committee met yesterday to discuss updates on the developing Long-term Plan (2025-34), and draft budgets have since been revised which will affect the final rates increases for 2025.

A report from group manager - business support Saskia Righarts outlined the proposed new changes, as a result of public consultation, and the district council will discuss these at its final meeting for the year tomorrow.

“The sequencing of conversations with community boards and council has put considerable pressure on the development of the consultation document which Audit New Zealand have requested to receive a draft of on 10 January 2025, with the completed and designed

document going to council on 29 January 2025,” the report said.

Included in the revised budget was council taking over the Ida MacDonald Roxburgh pool at the request of the Teviot Community Board, at a cost of $250,000 a year.

To compensate for the increase, council has recommended the Molyneux Aquatic Centre’s outdoor pool be closed, saving $250,000 a year.

Molyneux Turf Inc president Chris Galbraith (left) and Dunstan High School director of sport Sally Mullally. The Central Otago District Council's Audit and Risk committee have recommended a $300,000 grant for the new multi-purpose turf at

Dunstan High School. PHOTO: THE CENTRAL APP

Under its current level of services review, council has also been consulting community boards on which community halls and buildings should be divested or demolished - for additional cost savings.

Other budget revisions include the establishment of a council-controlled organisation to manage delivery of three waters functions (now called ‘Local Water Done Well’), and an increase in water volumetric charges (with a decrease in fixed charges).

The committee has also recommended council increase its financial contribution towards the development of the Omakau Hub ($1.6million), a grant of $200,000 to support a new turf operated by the Maniototo and a grant of $300,000 for a new multi-purpose turf at

Dunstan High School that can be used across all sporting codes.

Saskia told the committee they were still waiting on some important key decisions from council and it was decided a special risk and assurance meeting would need to be held in late January before the council met for the year on January 29.

The committee acknowledged that while $250,000 was not a huge saving to close the Alexandra outdoor pool, there would be some big public interest in that.

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