Plans for a $15 million Cambridge swimming pool complex have been canned due to a lack of funding.

Barry Bergin, group manager of service delivery at Waipa District Council,said community fundraising did not raise the 75 per cent of the money needed for work to start.

"After taking this into consideration and the current economic climate council staff recommend that the timing for construction of a new swimming pool facility for Cambridge, subject to community consultation, be deferred until 2017/18," he said.

Work on the multi-pool complex was due to start in 2014 on the site of the current Williamson St facility.

"A key success factor for this timeline was that 75 per cent of the community funding raising portion of the project cost was raised before any physical work commenced,'' Mr Bergin said.

''Despite the fundraising being extended, the Pool Fundraising Committee did not achieve this, and deferment of construction is now necessary.

"Due to the funding shortage and the economic situation, additional consultation with the community is planned to be undertaken to ascertain the type of swimming pool facilities needed for the Cambridge community."

Cr Dennis Finn questioned the council's chief financial officer, Ken Morris, on what would happen to the cash already raised.

"Only a small part of that money was received in cash. Any cash that was held is held by the Waipa Community Trust. The donors were happy for the trust to hang on to those funds," Mr Morris said.

Meanwhile, the council is faced with an $80,000 bill for the present outdoor pool complex at Cambridge where there are issues with achieving an adequate turnover rate of water due to pump and pipe size. Several leaks were also identified last season, which have been repaired.

- © Fairfax NZ News

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