When the alliance stands

The trend is towards the new construction of the Axamer Badl

The Axams leisure center: a picture from better times. The pool is now closed. "But we haven't given up on it," says the mayor.(Bild: Gemeinde Axams, Krone KREATIV)

The municipality is considering building a new closed indoor pool, which is very popular not only with residents of the low mountain range, but also with guests from Innsbruck to Zirl and Sellrain. But there are conditions. 

There was a huge outcry last autumn when the municipality announced the closure of the Axams leisure center. Energy costs, staff and renovations had become too much for the municipality. "The annual loss rose from around 400,000 euros per year to over one million euros. That was no longer justifiable," says Mayor Thomas Suitner.

However, the end does not affect the sauna, which is still in operation. The same applies to the outdoor area with sports pool and diving tower: the municipality plans to put this back into operation in the spring, as Suitner reports. "And we haven't given up on the leisure center in other respects either, on the contrary," says the village boss.

The pool technology is more than 50 years old and completely worn out(Bild: zVg)

Inspection with experts 
In the meantime, architects and pool builders have gained a precise overview of the pluses and minuses of the leisure facility. On the plus side, there is a high level of awareness and supra-regional importance: the mayor speaks of 70 percent out-of-town guests, from Innsbruck to Zirl to Sellrain.

If the other municipalities and the state don't follow suit, then it's probably over. To say that Axams can do it alone is not an option with 70 percent of visitors coming from outside. That would be the end of any municipal cooperation.

Thomas Suitner, Bürgermeister Axams

Renovation versus new construction
On the minus side, 50-year-old pool technology underground is causing renovations all the time. "But we don't want to stumble on as before," says Suitner. The building shell is not the problem, as it has already been renovated once. So the choice remains between general refurbishment and demolition or new construction, with both options costing roughly the same: "Experts put the renovation at 24 million euros and the new construction at 20 to 30 million euros," Suitner has had this calculated.

"The municipality alone can't afford it!"
He prefers an energy-efficient new building. The popular "Strudel" pool with a connection to the indoor pool would probably be history. And a new building only seems realistic if all neighboring municipalities and the state help pay for it. According to Suitner, this is not out of the question, "the state also took over a 35 percent share of the Telfs swimming pool. Much depends on the pool study". This should be available in June.

Only a stopgap solution would be to operate an outdoor pool only - as will be seen for the first time this year.