Dear Mr Soar,

I am writing to acknowledge receipt of your official information requests dated 3 October 2022 asking for information relating to the Splash Centre and the Whanganui East Pools.

We received your requests on 3 October 2022. We will endeavour to respond to your requests as soon as possible and in any event no later than 1 November 2022, being 20 working days after the day your requests were received. If we are unable to respond to your requests by then, we will notify you of an extension of that timeframe.

If you have any queries, please feel free to contact me on (06) 349 0001 or by return email. If any additional factors come to light which are relevant to your requests, please do not hesitate to contact me so that these can be taken into account.

Kind regards

Hayley Fitzgerald

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Whanganui District Council | | | Whanganui

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Dear Mr Soar,

 

I refer to your email dated 3 October 2022 asking for information relating
to the Splash Centre.

 

I have responded to each of your questions as outlined below. 

 

1. What were the “unforeseen circumstances for 11th July - 17th July 2022
altered hours please?

The Splash Centre was operated by Sport Whanganui at this time. Please
contact Sport Whanganui for a response to this query.

 

2. If due covid 19 why have no casual on call staff or other staffing
requirements been properly planned and actioned in the 2.5 years since
covid arrived in NZ?

As above.

 

3. Are there any plans to ensure enough on call staff are to be trained in
the face of both covid 19 never going away and the regularly altered hours
becoming a regular occurrence?

Whanganui District Council are currently recruiting for lifeguard
positions and have recently employed more staff enabling more regular
operating hours to resume.

 

4. If no plans exist to train enough staff or casual call out staff to
ensure less alterations to operating hours why are there no such plans
being made?

As above.

 

5. Why are swim schools and lane bookings permitted when staff shortages
see part facility closed or hours reduced leading to overcrowding of lanes
for the public?

Learn to swim programmes are pre booked and by closing would result in a
large number of delays and customers affected. Assessment is undertaken to
ensure there is fair and equitable access for all users, and when closures
are required, assessment as to what will have the least impact on a number
of users.

 

6. Why were we never told about the chlorine overdose some months back
that I swam in at 6am suffering burning eyes afterward and leading to the
closure of the pool by about 8am that day? The excuse given was
“unforeseen circumstances”.  That was not ok for anyone who had been in
that water.  I made a formal complaint to Council about 3 months back yet
no response even though it is notifiable event?

Whanganui District Council received this complaint two months after the
alleged incident. This was when the pool was managed by Sport Whanganui
and Council received no official notification.

 

7. Why does Splash Centre regularly (nearly every week day) open several
minutes late leaving people outside in cold / rain?  If they can’t be
prepared to open on time 6am daily simply have staff arrive-several
minutes earlier?

When the Splash Centre opens at 6am staff will endeavour to have the doors
open at 6am. Staff do start earlier in order to have the facility ready to
operate.

 

Kind regards

Marianne

Marianne Cavanagh | General Manager Community & Customer Experience
P: +64 06 349 3103 | M: +64 027 216 5643
[1]www.whanganui.govt.nz
Whanganui District Council | 101 Guyton Street | PO Box 637 | Whanganui
4500
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Dear Mr Soar,

 

I refer to your official information request dated 3 October 2022 asking
for information relating to Whanganui East Pools.

 

The information you have requested is as follows.

 

1. Will the Whanganui East Pools be open to public use this summer?

At this stage undetermined but it is Council’s aim to do so.

 

2. If open what dates will it be open and what hours please?

Yet to be determined.

 

3. If not opening this summer why not?

As above.

 

4. The total cost to ratepayers for Splash Centre & Whanganui East pools
per annum last three years figures are available please?

Total rates requirement for the Splash Centre and Whanganui East pools
were:

·       2019/20 - $1,680,538

·       2020/21 - $1,577,807

·       2021/22 - $1,534,035 (note this figure is unaudited as at
10/10/2022)

 

The rates fund operating expenses, capital expenditure, overheads,
interest payments and any loan repayments for the activity.

 

You have the right to seek an investigation and review by the Ombudsman of
this decision. Information about how to make a complaint is available at
[1]www.ombudsman.parliament.nz or freephone 0800 802 602.

 

If you wish to discuss this decision with us, please feel free to contact
me on 06 349 0001 or by return email.

 

 

Yours sincerely

 

 

Hayley Fitzgerald

 

On behalf of

Rob Goldsbury

General Counsel

 

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