Dargaville Swimming Centre manager Trevor Bruce — ‘‘the first week of business was better than expected”

An Anniversary Day with a difference is planned at the new Dargaville swimming pool.

The first week of business has been “better than expected, helped by a good spell of weather,” according to the swimming centre manager, Trevor Bruce.

“And on Anniversary Day we are going to do something different. We will stay open later and we’ll have a big screen showing movies, along with hot kumara chips and snacks for a family night out.

“So far we have sold about 70 annual swimming passes for families and adults,” he added.

Family packages are $225 for the year, with a 20 per cent discount for community service card holders. Adult passes are $175, with the same discount applying. Individual swim tickets cost $5 per adult and $3 per child.

Mr Bruce said there were still a number of fine tuning activities going on to bring the pool up to full operating standard.

“We are still in the hand-over phase from the pool contractors so this is normal. We are also looking for more lifeguards, we have eight at present.”

Mr Bruce has 20 years’ experience in pool management.

A resident of Mangawhai, he is currently looking around locally for, “about 100 acres of lease block, so I can move my Hereford herd over to Dargaville and be close to work.”