FAQs
Our commitment to sustainability
Energy costs are a major portion of an aquatic centre’s total operating cost. That’s why it’s important to have a good building design from the outset so ongoing energy costs can be reduced as much as possible.
Few buildings in New Zealand equal the energy efficiency and innovative conservation measures incorporated into the design of Alpine Aqualand. Some of its environmentally sustainable features are:
• Extra thick insulation in the roof and walls.
• Double glazed windows with "evergreen" external panes which minimise reflective glare and retain most of the heat from the sun.
• Light coloured roof and upper walls to avoid excessive heat buildup in the roof and within the building. This keeps the building cool and therefore the ventilation system can maintain a more constant temperature with greater energy efficiency.
• Exhaust air heat recovery provides more than 90% of the total energy required for heating the air and water.
• Boost heat is only needed over the winter months. This is less than 10% of the total energy needed for heating during a 12 month period. Most heat is recovered from the exhaust air with the heat pump and is used to heat water and the incoming fresh air.
• Motorised pool covers for all pools reduce energy costs by 30% with a payback period of just 27 months.
• Integrated energy management system.
• Use of Myrtha pool liner throughout rather than tiles which results in 30% less embodied energy and 25% less CO2 emissions released during the manufacture of the liner versus tiles.
• Recycling of all spilt pool water saves energy and reduces demand on the water supply. The pool water in all pools is constantly filtered and then returned back into the pool - this way they rarely need to be emptied.
• Other energy conservation measures include variable air volume fans, speed control of heat pump compressors and heating coil pumps, and energy-efficient long life lights throughout the building.
QUEENSTOWN AQUATIC CENTRE
25 Metre Versus 50 Metre Lap Pool – Why Our Pool is 25 Metre
The Aquatic Centre Working Party considered the lap pool length (and number and width of lanes) in considerable detail. Two recreation consultants provided advice and the Working Party met with a number of pool operators in addition to extensive community and user group consultation. The decision to recommend a 25 metre lap pool was based on the advice received but was also influenced by Swimming New Zealand (the national swim competition authority) which published the following information:
On a population basis, New Zealand has one 50m pool per 100,000 people, in comparison to the United Kingdom, which has one 50m pool per 3.5 million people.
On a pool space basis for example, a community could build 1 x 50m ten-lane international pool for $20 million with an available space of 1500m2, or 5 x 25m eight-lane training/community pools with an available space of 2,500m2. This is a 60% improvement in space for a little more investment and would allow a significantly greater geographical coverage for both pool space and funding.
The sport of swimming has significant needs at the learn to swim, training and competition level which are failing to be met as increasing pressure is placed upon pool space from the community in support life style, aquatic sports and learn to swim demands. Swimming New Zealand believe these parallel objectives can be met by development of indoor 25m pools rather than 50m facilities. This also recognises the community can better manage and maintain the development and operational costs of pools of this size.
Swimming New Zealand has developed a national competition policy which identifies the five facilities which will be used for national competitions. Development of new facilities will not guarantee a change in this policy, therefore the development of new facilities should be based upon community needs rather than national competition expectations.
Furthermore Queenstown Swim Club was supportive of a 25 metre pool.
The FINA World Cup Championships alternate between 25m (short course) and 50m annually. For these major international events it is now standard practice to build a temporary pool inside an existing indoor sports stadium rather than expect the host country to provide an indoor facility with all of the necessary infrastructure and a seating capacity of tens of thousands. The 2006 World Championship was held at the Ron Laver Tennis Arena in Melbourne.
Most 50 metre pools are divided into two 25 metre pools and are only used as a 50m pool occasionally, mostly for competitions. Swimming NZ advised the Working Party that there was little likelihood that international or even national competitions would be held in Queenstown, but that planning should allow for regional competitions.
On the financial side lap pools do not generate significant income to offset their relatively high operating costs. Aquatic operators through New Zealand report that most income is derived from water play such as hydro slides and learn to swim programs.
The 25 metre pool at The Queenstown Aquatic Centre will be fully compliant with the FINA (international swimming authority) rules with 8 by 2.5m lanes, 200mm extra space on each side and varying in depth from 1.05m to 2.0m. The lap pool will be suitable for all short course competitions.
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