Increase in Pool Admission Charges
As from 4 September 2017 pool admission charges will be increased as follows:
- Single swim – adult or child 5 years and over $8
- Single swim – child under 5 years $2
- 10 swim concession card $60
- 10 swim concession card for adults 65 years and over $50
- 10 swim concession card for those with a current medical certificate $50
- Pool hire with lifeguard supplied $180 per hour
The last increase in pool admission charges occurred in January 2015. This increase, effective from 4 September, is brought about by the following factors:
- costs continue to rise and they need to be covered,
- costs exceed revenue by a significant amount and
- part of the strategic plan to reach viability is to increase pool admission charges progressively.
The single biggest cost is the amount which the trust pays to the SDHB, mainly for heating. In 2014, under threat of closure of the pool, the trust had to agree to a significant increase in the amount which it was paying to the SDHB. From January 2015 the amount increased from $42,667 per annum to $142,663 (plus GST). Since then, the trust has been funding the excess of costs over revenue from the donations received from the public during the Save the Pool from Closure campaign and grants from organisations such as Bendigo Valley Sports & Charity Foundation. The trustees foresaw the need to divide the campaign into two fundraising components, one for future operating costs and the other for the upgrade of the pool. In addition to resolving obvious deferred maintenance issues the upgrade was intended to achieve savings in heating costs. However, because of the proposed redevelopment of Dunedin Hospital the upgrade had to be postponed. The trust had also planned to increase admission charges progressively following the upgrade to move towards viability. Even though a decision about the redevelopment of the hospital is still awaited the trust has to proceed with increasing admission charges.