Disruption for the greater good

Marlborough Lines Stadium 2000 has posted a smaller net profit during the July financial year compared to last year because of major disruptions in building the new aquatic centre.

The Marlborough Stadium Trust annual report for the financial year ending June 2011, which was presented at the trust's annual meeting in Blenheim last night, showed a net surplus of $61,154 compared to $91,663 the previous year.

Construction on the $14.95 million pools rebuilding project began in October 2009 and is due to open in late January.

Trust chairman Luke van Velthooven said construction work around the site in Kinross St had been disruptive but was for the greater good.

Marlborough 4 Fun had moved out of the stadium and Sport Tasman and the Marlborough Community College had relocated to other parts of the stadium building partly as a result of the construction.

"The challenge for the trust and its staff has been to focus on business as usual parallel to such a major development and continue to trade through the massive disruption," he said.

The first stage of the aquatic centre, which was opened to the public in June, was proving popular with an estimated 165,000 visits an increase of 102 per cent on the previous year.

However, the report says casual users of the aquatic centre and old pool had dropped because of the "significant disruption" of the construction.

Mr van Velthooven said he was pleased the learn to swim classes, which were a major revenue source, had the same number of students despite the changes at the stadium and pool.

The completed aquatic centre will have eight pools including a 25 metre outdoor pool, with a children's pool attached, a leisure pool with a lazy river, toddlers' pool, spa/hydrotherapy pool, and a 10-lane 25m competition pool.

At a glance - numbers from the Marlborough Lines Stadium 2000 annual report up to June 30, 2011:

520,000 estimated visits to the stadium complex

$1,740,110 total revenue

$1,670,986 total expenditure

$61,154 net surplus

28.7 per cent ($500,000) proportion of revenue from the Marlborough District Council

0.96c cost to rate payers per visit

- The Marlborough Express

SIMON WONG

Last updated 08:08 28/10/2011

BEN CURRAN

Meticulous work: Charles Norager and Son tiling worker Yun Qian lays a tile yesterday in the new 25 metre outdoor pool at the Marlborough Lines Stadium 2000 aquatic centre in Blenheim