In the Dunedin Area, CPPS operates community work in Dunedin, Balclutha, Mosgiel, Methven, Rakaia Twizel, Fairlie, Geraldine, Temuka, Waimate, Ashburton, Timaru, Oamaru, Gore, and Invercargill. Find contact details for the Dunedin Area.
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Excerpt from Community Works Issue 6, February 2006 |
Seaweed and sand are not your average swimming pool litter.
But that’s what Community Work offenders found when they helped clean Dunedin’s historic seaside pool at St Clair Beach last month.
A team of offenders spent a day preparing the pool complex for its summer season opening at Labour Weekend.
The iconic pool perched above the surf at the south end of the beach lies dormant through the Otago winter. Once summer arrives, it’s filled with saltwater heated to 28 degrees and is popular on a fine day.
Pool Supervisor Gaye Brooks, from the Dunedin City Council, says the 25m six-lane pool had a $1.4m facelift in 2001 with new tiles and improved facilities.
This is the second year supervised offenders from the Community Probation Service have helped prepare the pool for its open season.
“Their main task was cleaning the bottom of the pool. We’re right beside the sea so there was a lot of sand and seaweed and stuff like that. It was quite windy, but they did well,” says Gaye.
Offenders also cleaned the balance tank, which buffers the pool from the tide. From there, seawater is taken and filtered before being pumped into the pool.
Gaye says it was great to have Community Work crews available to come and help with what is too big a job for one person.
Meanwhile, Senior Community Work Supervisor Don Harrington says the project was just right for a work party.
“The majority have either used the facility themselves or their children do. It’s also a job in which the results of their efforts are easily distinguishable and they value the opportunity of working at a site that is recognised throughout New Zealand as a distinctive Dunedin landmark.”