For decades, a community swimming pool has sat high on Raglan’s wish list. Now a group of locals believe they have the expertise, funding support and momentum to finally make it happen.
Speaking on Raglan Community Radio, Raglan Community Pool Trust members Fiona Edwards, John Latimer and Lauren Mills outlined their vision for a community pool and the work already underway to determine whether the long-discussed project can become a reality.
Unlike previous attempts, the proposal already has a $1 million funding commitment available and a trust that includes one of New Zealand’s most experienced community pool operators, a former competitive swimmer and long-time community fundraising advocates.
Raglan’s pool dream is nothing new. Historical records show locals were discussing a community pool as far back as 1911, around the time of King George V’s coronation. More than 100 years later, a new trust believes it may finally have the expertise, funding and community support needed to make it happen.
The trust is still in the early stages of planning, but members say they are taking a methodical approach, beginning with needs assessments, site investigations and feasibility work before settling on a final design or location.
“We’re not close yet, but we are working on being close,” says John.
A serious proposal
One major boost is already on the table: Fiona revealed that the Raglan Community Charitable Trust, which has supported local emergency services and community wellbeing initiatives for many years, has committed up to $1 million towards the project if the right site and business case can be established.
“It’s a substantial starting point,” Fiona says. “But it’s only if we get the right site, the feasibility plans come together and we get the right kind of pool that’s going to be feasible, functional and affordable.”
For Fiona, the project is about more than just building a swimming pool.
Shortly after moving to Raglan more than 30 years ago, she was seriously injured in a head-on car crash. Unable to drive herself, she relied on her husband to take her into Hamilton so she could swim. She credits those regular visits to the pool with helping her regain mobility and rebuild her strength.
“People swim for pleasure, people swim for safety, people swim to get back on their feet,” she says.
Expertise behind the project
John brings more than 40 years of experience in aquatic facility management and currently works with Community Leisure Management, one of New Zealand’s largest operators of public swimming pools. He has been involved in facilities ranging from small community pools to major aquatic centres around the country.
He jokes that he has been involved with community swimming pools for almost as long as Raglan has been talking about building one.
Lauren is a former competitive swimmer who reached world championship level before illness ended her elite career. She has spent years teaching swimming and is passionate about ensuring children develop confidence in deep water rather than simply learning skills in shallow pools.
For Lauren, access to deep water is a non-negotiable part of any future facility.
“So many children learn to swim in a swim school and then get in deep water and freeze,” she says.
A mother of six, Lauren says she has taught all of her children to swim from an early age. Her experience has reinforced her belief that many children learn swimming skills in controlled environments but struggle when faced with deeper water or open-water conditions.
Lauren believes the combination of skills around the trust table gives the project a strong foundation.
“I think we’ve got a really great team of people on the trust with some pretty special expertise in this small community,” she says.
Demand already exists
A needs assessment commissioned by the trust suggests there is strong demand for a community pool in Raglan.
Completed by aquatic planning specialist Brendon Rope, the assessment examined national, district and local trends. One local survey found swimming was the highest participation activity after school, with 67 percent of respondents taking part. Around two-thirds of those surveyed said they would use a community pool if one existed.
The trust believes the benefits would extend well beyond recreation.
Swimming provides opportunities for water safety education, rehabilitation, fitness, learn-to-swim programmes and social connection. John says pools often reveal previously unmet demand once they are built.
“There’s always a latent demand for pools, which is not met until the pool is there,” he says.
More than just a swimming pool
Rather than a large-scale aquatic centre, the trust is exploring a practical, community-focused facility.
Current thinking centres on a 25-metre, six-lane pool capable of supporting multiple activities simultaneously, including lane swimming, learn-to-swim programmes, aqua fitness, rehabilitation sessions and potentially scuba training.
The trust also sees opportunities to support Raglan Area School’s outdoor education programme, allowing activities such as kayak rolling practice, scuba training and water safety education to take place regardless of tides or weather conditions.
Importantly, the pool would include deep water so swimmers can build confidence and develop skills in conditions more closely resembling the harbour and ocean environments many locals regularly encounter.
Finding the right site
One of the biggest challenges remains finding a suitable location.
The trust has already assessed 16 potential locations and narrowed the list to four. Factors such as parking, accessibility, infrastructure, land ownership and proximity to schools are all being considered. While several sites remain under investigation, trust members say finding the right location will be one of the most important decisions in determining whether the project succeeds.
Sites investigated include Lorenzen Bay Reserve, Wainui Reserve, land associated with the golf course and land offered by Rangitahi developer Dave Peacocke, who is also a member of the trust.
The trust says it wants to thoroughly investigate all options before settling on a preferred location.
Making it financially sustainable
One concern raised during recent discussions with the Raglan Community Board is the possibility of ongoing costs falling on ratepayers.
John says modern pool management focuses heavily on operational sustainability.
The trust’s goal is to create a facility that covers its operating costs through a mix of swim lessons, lane swimming, fitness activities, rehabilitation programmes and other revenue streams. Energy-efficient design, including solar generation and other sustainability measures, will also form part of future planning.
“It is our intention to make this pool as self-sufficient and cost-effective as possible,” Fiona says.
The trust is also exploring the possibility of establishing an endowment fund to help support future maintenance costs.
While detailed costings are still some way off, John says early estimates suggest an outdoor pool could potentially be delivered for around $3 million, while a covered, year-round facility could cost between $10 million and $15 million. He notes the figures are broad estimates only and would depend heavily on the final design and location.
Next steps
The next stage is a detailed feasibility plan, which will examine site options, concept designs, operating models and long-term sustainability.
Only then will the trust begin broader conversations with potential funders, regulators and the wider community.
For Fiona, who says she has wanted a pool in Raglan since the day she arrived more than three decades ago, the project represents an opportunity that may not come around again.
Whether the project ultimately succeeds remains to be seen, but after decades of discussion, supporters believe Raglan may now have the people, expertise and backing needed to finally turn the community’s long-held pool dream into reality.