The main swimming pools at EA Networks Centre are on track to open early on Monday 3 February, after major repairs and maintenance in the aquatic area.

Centre manager Richard Wood said staff were looking forward to seeing their regular pool users back at the much-enjoyed facility.

“Our regular fitness swimmers and competitive swimmers  and many other pool users will be keen to get back in the water, and we’re also ready to launch straight into our after-school swim classes that cater for just over 1100 youngsters learning to swim.

“We’re still waiting for the arrival of new parts from the UK for the sand filtration system for the leisure pool and splash deck, so this area is now likely to open on 13 February, but otherwise we are raring to go.”

Contractors have been busy this week making sure the hydro pool, learners’ pools, spa pool and steam room are ready for 3 February. The leisure pool area opening later includes the lazy river, splash deck and toddlers’ pool.

Richard said swimmers would immediately notice some changes, including a colourful new non-slip deck in the toddlers’ pool.

“The material is recycled rubber and certainly adds a splash of colour. The splash deck area also has new non-slip flooring in a bright blue colour.”

Steam room users will find the wooden cedar seats, installed when the facility opened 10 years ago, gone and replaced by tiled seating.

Hundreds of other tiles across the various pools have been hand scrubbed during the shutdown, while 150 square meters of new flooring and 620m of new silicone joints have been laid.

Already completed is the modified driveway entrance from River Terrace, where traffic leaving the centre can now choose from separate left or right-turning lanes. Speed humps in the carpark to keep traffic slow have also been widened.

Work continues on the new multi-purpose room, which will have a spongy vinyl floor and be a new room for some group fitness classes (like yoga), special populations classes and the holiday programme. New fitness and wellness offerings for the community are also being investigated.

Richard said the new multi-purpose room would likely be ready by the end of February and then open for bookings.

“Our Sports House tenants will be in their new space by early February, and our own staff are also looking forward to their new space at the western end of the building where they can take their breaks, whether they have come straight from the pool or gym.”

The space for Eat Café has been slightly reduced and one wall will feature a large-scale image from Council archives of swimmers at the Ashburton Domain.

Richard said the cost of the renovations was around $620,000, but reconfiguring the space and re-newing highly-trafficked areas was essential after a decade of solid use by the community.

“Most pools need this sort of major work between six and eight years, but we’ve carefully managed all areas at the centre and looking forward to our 10-year anniversary in May.”