The Tauranga City Council has asked us all to fill out its survey on the coming new aquatic centre facility scheduled to be built at Memorial Park. Great! But what worries me is, are enough people doing this? I hope they are – otherwise we will end up with another Baywave, which I am doubtful actually pays its own way.

What the Bay of Plenty has needed for very long time is a Olympic-style complex with eight-lane, 50m pools and a full springboard and platform diving complex – not 25m pools which are a waste of effort!

Even back in the 1940s-1950s Rotorua had the Blue Baths with diving platforms, and many swimming and diving carnivals were held there. I know because as a lad I won the Auckland Provincial Junior Diving Cup there. Those days are long gone. Unfortunately, the old Blue Baths are no more but now is the time to bring swimming and diving competitors back from all over New Zealand, not to mention just the Bay. Like rugby, swimming is a spectator sport and brings the public in.

By all means include a learners’ pool etc but a “bomb” pool is a bit over the top. I imagine a youth inadvertently “bombing” someone else in the pool! Whatever, people have your say.

James Newman, Mount Maunganui.

*Editor’s note: The TCC survey closed November 8 and council considered the results on Thursday, November 14.