Mount Aspiring College (MAC) principal Nicola Jacobsen says recent progress on the future of the former Wānaka pool site is “a step in the right direction”.

Earlier this month the Wānaka Community Board (WCB) recommended Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC) dispose of the site and transfer it to the Ministry of Education. 

Located next to the MAC campus, the site could be used to expand the fast-growing school.

“The land would be ideal for the next stage in the college's redevelopment,” Nicola told the Wānaka App. 

“In the college's master plan, the next stage of the redevelopment includes more gym space, which is greatly needed.” 

Former principal Wayne Bosley expressed interest in acquiring the 6,441m2 pool site to help accommodate the growing roll as far back as 2017, when the pool was soon to be decommissioned.

In July this year there were 1,150 students enrolled at MAC and it has forecast student numbers of 1,261 students in 2022 and 1,439 students by 2025.

A $46.5M redevelopment of the school, designed to cater for 1,600 students, is already underway and due to be completed next year.

Nicola said the Ministry of Education’s master plan identified the need for another gym space. 

She said she was not directly involved in negotiations but was supportive of the process.

“It is great to see the council and the ministry making progress in this space, which I realise, does take time.”

Wanaka’s former community swimming pool, which was deemed to be earthquake prone and had undergone strengthening, was closed on June 9, 2018, a day before the new swimming pool at Wanaka’s Recreation Centre was opened.

Queenstown Lakes District councillors will consider the WCB’s recommendation at a meeting on December 15.

PHOTO: Wānaka App