Matamata-Piako District Council recently installed a cost-effective roofing solution at Swim Zone Matamata to enable year-round aquatic provision to continue in the district. In 2021, a working group was formed by community representatives, Councillors and Sport Waikato to explore options for the old roof - after they discovered it didn't meet earthquake standards. 
 
As a region, like many across the New Zealand, the Waikato region has aged aquatic infrastructure and limited suitable year-round provision to aquatic spaces. The Waikato Regional Aquatic Facilities Plan and Waikato Regional Active Spaces Plan, highlights that the average age of community pools are 45+ years with school pools being 60 years. As a region we need to work collaboratively and undertake extensive planning to ensure we have adequate and suitable aquatic space to meet the needs of our future communities.   
 
In the meantime, we need to continue to maintain current provision, especially in communities like Matamata where community pools are a fabric of the community and typically the only spaces where our children can learn lifelong lessons such as water safety.
 
To read more on the project check out their dedicated project page