Thousands of litres.
Lost every single day.
A serious water leak has forced our pool closed. Here's what's wrong, what we've tried, and what it will take to fix it.
What's Wrong
The Cust Community Pool has developed a significant water leak in its ageing shell. The pool loses thousands of litres of water every day, making it environmentally unsustainable and financially impossible to keep filling.
Following an expert assessment, the Waimakariri District Council has ordered the pool closed until a permanent repair is completed and funded.
Thousands of litres lost daily
The leak makes operation unsustainable
Council-ordered closure
Pool cannot reopen until repairs are funded
Time is critical
Delay means further deterioration and higher costs
What's Been Tried
Patching and sealing attempts
Multiple surface-level repairs were tried but failed to stop the leak.
Leak detection surveys
Professional surveys identified the source but confirmed a major repair is needed.
Community working bees
Volunteers have maintained the facility and grounds, but can't fix a structural leak.
Professional repair — what's needed now
Expert assessment confirms: excavation, shell repair, resealing, and new plumbing sections.
What It Will Cost
What Happens If We Don't Raise It
Pool stays closed
The pool will remain shut indefinitely, with no timeline for reopening.
Further deterioration
Without repair, the damage worsens every season, driving costs even higher.
Permanent loss
Eventually the facility becomes uneconomical to repair at all.
No swimming in Cust
The community would lose its only public swimming facility after 70 years.