AusLeisure

Development of the Gippsland Regional Aquatic Centre (GRAC) is moving forward following the recent unveiling of designs for the facility and the nearby Traralgon Sports Stadium.

Contractors are now going through a bid process for tenders to construct the aquatic centre and perform the upgrades to the sports stadium.

The $46 million GRAC is the centrepiece of the Latrobe Valley Authority’s $85 million sports and infrastructure package, providing Latrobe City with the opportunity to fulfil its long held desire for a facility of this type for its constituents.

Designed by architects Peddle Thorp, the Centre will feature a range of facilities including a 50 metre indoor swimming pool with spectator seating, an indoor water play zone, a warm water pool, a designated learn-to-swim pool, spa and sauna areas, a wellness centre, a café and retail precinct and wet and dry change facilities.

Concepts for the $17 million upgrade to the Traralgon Indoor Sports Stadium include a four-court extension, a new show court, spectator seating and associated amenities.

This project has strong community support, and is being designed in consultation with local residents, key user groups and stakeholders.

In developing the facility, Latrobe City Council worked with key stakeholders such as Swimming Victoria to refine the scope of the aquatics components along with a nine-person Project Reference Group (PRG), taking inspiration and learnings from comparable centres across the state.

Feedback from community consultation was also utilised in developing the facility, with the PRG continuing to act as a key conduit between Council and community in the planning and delivery of the GRAC.

The project also includes the relocation of the Traralgon Croquet Club (TCC) which will move to a new facility and clubhouse replacing its current one

TCC’s current Breed Street centre is more than 60 years old and has limited capacity to host large events and simultaneous play.

The proposed new site would include lighting to enable evening play, a new clubhouse and courts designed to maximise local usage and attract major competitions.

Commenting on the project, Latrobe Valley Authority Chief Executive Karen Cain advised "Traralgon is seen as one of the best places for sporting competition in swimming in both Gippsland but also state-wide.

“So having state-of-the-art equipment and competition-level architecture ... is extremely important to this community.

"I think one of the aims has been, not only for our local community, but to increase visitor economy here."

Backed by the Victorian Government within its sports infrastructure fund from the $266 million Hazelwood transition fund, GRAC is expected to be finished by 2020.

Images of GRAC courtesy of Peddle Thorp.

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