After Cyclone Gabrielle’s devastation, restoring this pool required innovation and community support. With severe damage, no direct water supply, and remote access, creative solutions were essential. Thanks to local efforts, water was sourced, and access was secured, bringing this vital community pool back to life for many summers to come.
| Project: | Patoka Swimming Club |
|---|---|
| Location: | Hawkes Bay |
| Year: | 2024 |
| Project Type: | Commercial Pool Renovation |
| Pool Type: | Existing Concrete Pool |
The community swim club pool suffered severe damage from Cyclone Gabrielle, leaving the entire area flooded and filled with silt.
Even before the cyclone, the pool had known leakage issues, making a full renovation essential to ensure its long-term viability.
Given that the project was fully funded through community efforts, the solution needed to be cost-effective while delivering durability and longevity.
Our goal was to restore this vital community asset, providing a safe and sustainable facility that would serve generations to come.
Since the project relied entirely on community funding, it was crucial to select a long-term solution that eliminated unexpected costs. While options such as removing the existing paint and repairing cracks were considered, the unpredictable scope of these repairs made them impractical. Instead, we opted for a T-Loc liner extrusion, which was precisely measured by our team to ensure a perfect, watertight fit.
To enhance safety and usability, a non-slip coating was applied to the pool’s top surface, addressing previous concerns about children slipping. Additionally, new equipment and plumbing were installed to bring the pool up to NZS4441:2008 standards, ensuring better water circulation, easier maintenance, and improved safety. An automatic chlorine and pH feeder was also added to meet NZS5826:2010 standards, guaranteeing consistent water quality.
On site visit to determine the issue and investigate possible solutions
Taking measurements to render a 3D file to send to the manufacturer
Installing t-lock clipping system and panel pad before liner installation
New plumbing including new pumps, filters and automated dosing system
Custom made liner in light blue with custom swim lanes weighing over 450kg
We installed a custom made Aqualux liner with custom swim lanes and reinforced corners, custom made stainless steel skimmers and hand rails, 2 x V1200 filters with glass media, 2 x Hi flow DAB pumps, Emec diaphragmic chlorine and p.H doser. We also supplied and installed new plumbing in sizes varying between 40mm and 150mm pressure pipe.
This community-driven effort, combined with specialised design solutions, made this project truly unique, original, and impactful. The result is a fully restored, safe, and sustainable community pool that is now easier to maintain and safer for children to enjoy. This transformation not only extends the life of the facility but also ensures that the local community can continue to benefit from this vital resource for years to come.
The icing on the cake was our dedicated renovations team winning both the regional (NZ) and the National (Australia and NZ) Gold award for Vinyl Lined Commercial Pool up to $250,000 at the SPASA Awards of Excellence in 2025.
Whether you're planning a new commercial pool, renovating an existing facility or considering a custom vinyl liner, our specialist team can help you explore your options.
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