Citycare Property delivers annual recreational centre and pool maintenance across seven indoor pools in Franklin, Manurewa, Papakura, Ōtāhuhu, Māngere, Papatoetoe, and Ōtara in South Auckland. Our building maintenance teams also look after three outdoor pool facilities under Auckland City Council’s Rima contract. For cost efficiency and to minimise downtime of these community facilities, Citycare Property works closely with the Council to develop a carefully planned maintenance programme, which involves shutting down the affected areas. They operate under very tight timeframes to minimise the impact of the maintenance programme on the community.
Leading this programme is Matt Davey, whose experience in building and servicing pools has reshaped how these essential community assets are maintained by Citycare Property.
Matt joined Citycare Property in 2019 as a structures handyperson, moved into the carpentry team, and then began leading the pool maintenance programme in 2022 as a Trades Supervisor. He is currently seconded as Trades Manager.
“I had my own business building and servicing pools for years, so stepping into this role felt like a natural fit,” says Matt.
He also shares that it’s a privilege to lead such a skilled and dedicated trades team, whose commitment to delivering high-quality work matches his own.
Innovation That Reduces Cost and Downtime
Historically, underwater pool maintenance was done by draining the pools, and then eventually it was outsourced to a specialist dive company, which added to the annual costs and required extended pool closures. Citycare Property proposed bringing this work in-house to deliver cost savings and improve efficiencies. With Matt’s experience, he and another team member upskilled to achieve a commercial diving certification, so they can now deliver scuba-based maintenance in a more efficient, safer way that is saving thousands in costs per recreation centre. It also reduced the need to drain hundreds of thousands of litres of pool water.
The team also introduced longer-lasting repair materials, reducing repeat visits and improving asset longevity. Their capability has led to providing additional support across other parts of Auckland, including leak detection and urgent repairs, where the team resolved a major leak in which a pool was losing 100,000 litres of water a day.
Efficient, Collaborative Delivery
Pool shutdowns are planned collaboratively with the Auckland City Council teams, including understanding the budget and identifying priorities. Citycare Property provides asset insights, cost-benefit advice, and renewal recommendations based on years of asset maintenance history.
Work is carefully staged to minimise disruption, often keeping parts of facilities open.
“If areas stay open, we use non-toxic, commercial-grade products to keep everyone safe,” Matt explains.
To reduce downtime, the team bundles services such as deep cleaning, building washes, and hygiene treatments to improve operational efficiency and extend asset lifespan.
Safety Excellence Recognised
A recent Auckland City Council health and safety audit of the Ōtara Pool shutdown highlighted exceptional performance, noting strong hazard awareness, documentation, PPE compliance, and site management. The only recommendation was to continue maintaining the high standard of safety already demonstrated.
Supporting Community Wellbeing
Matt is justifiably proud of the work he and his team do, acknowledging the important role public pool facilities play in the community. “Pools are a valued community amenity. Not everyone can afford a private pool, so these facilities give everyone access. We’re helping maintain assets that support people’s wellbeing” Matt says.
Through innovation, strong planning, and a commitment to safety, Citycare Property ensures South Auckland’s pools remain ready for the communities that enjoy them.
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