The Whakatāne Aquatic and Fitness Centre will be closed to the public from 6 pm on Saturday, 6 July until 6 am on Monday, 15 July while its annual maintenance programme is undertaken.

Whakatāne District Council Aquatics and Recreation Manager Lee Colquhoun says the facility shutdown will allow staff to complete the necessary maintenance to meet the centre's Poolsafe accreditation.

Planned work includes treatment and pump system upgrades and servicing, along with the emptying and cleaning of all pools in the complex.

"The Aquatic Centre team is aware this closure will inconvenience some of our customers, particularly given the closure coincides with the school holidays, but it is a requirement of our Poolsafe compliance," he says.

We've tried to minimise this inconvenience as much as possible for our regular users, including the Learn to Swim programme, and will make every effort to have our maintenance programme completed so the Aquatic Centre can reopen on 15 July."

Fitness Centre operations will also be closed to users during the eight-day maintenance period. Membership fees will not be charged during the week-long closure.