The concrete diving boards structure at the national pool in Tal-Qroqq is in a pitiful state, with parts of it in danger of collapsing, forcing the authorities to cordon off the area, the Times of Malta has learnt.
Access to the area around the structure was sealed off and clearly marked with warning signs while studies are carried out to establish the extent of the damage.
“The structure is not in a good state. SportMalta closed it completely from being used while a feasibility study is conducted into whether another diving structure at the national pool or in the new indoor pool will be rebuilt,” a spokeswoman for the Parliamentary Secretariat for Sports said when asked.
She said the concrete diving structure was only used once in the 23 years it was there and that the facility was not being used for any diving competition at the moment.
Asked whether the secretariat had any idea of the cost to rebuild it or to repair the damage, the spokeswoman said these costs were expected to be determined by the feasibility study.
SportMalta closed it completely from being used while a feasibility study is conducted
However, she added, the cost of dismantling would be part of a bigger project which would see the reconstruction of the deck at the national pool “which was left in a state of shame and danger to swimmers for years”. This project will cost around €700, 000.
She said SportMalta was currently in discussions with swimming and water polo clubs so that the project would cause the least disturbance possible.
The national swimming pool is a full-sized Olympic pool (50 metres) with a 25-metre diving pool alongside.
According to information given recently in Parliament, €1.5 million was spent on the national pool last year, compared to €40,329 in 2014.
Parliamentary Secretary for Sport Chris Agius told Parliament that the government was considering including a hostel within the national pool facilities, given that a number of sports teams came from abroad to utilise the facilities.
He also said the government was considering changing the depth of the diving pool to the same depth of the other pool.
Of the €1.5 million, €821,000 was spent on the installation of heat pumps, solar collectors, pool covers. The money came from the European Regional Funds. A further €678,000 was spent on the South Block project, including the modernisation of the changing rooms and two squash courts.