AusLeisure

Hamilton City Council has agreed to undertake a $10.72 million refurbishment of its Waterworld swimming complex

The funding, which will include $5.7 million brought forward from the Council’s 10-Year Plan funding to undertake a range of essential repairs and upgrades at the 40-year-old facility.

Condition assessments at the facility have revealed that numerous pieces of essential filtration, water supply, pipes and air conditioning equipment have reached the end of their useful lives and replacement has been identified as fundamental for the continued safe operation of the pools.

Cosmetic issues relating to the facility’s flooring (in some areas) and ceiling have also been cause for concern.

The Council’s Community Development and Leisure Manager Debbie Lascelles explains that Hamilton Pools’ staff have been working with consultants to plan for the refurbishment for about 18 months, now identifying the refurbishment as urgent and essential.

Lascelles explains “we’ve been carefully managing our pool for several years, and we’ve now reached the point where we must fix it up to keep it running."

The work, which is scheduled to begin in February 2018, will include upgrades to staff-only plant and machinery areas of the facility, along with assets such as lights and air conditioning systems.

The scale of the refurbishment job will require a five-month temporary closure of Waterworld’s 25-metre, 50-metre, toddlers and dive pools.

Learn-to-Swim classes and group fitness sessions will continue during the refurbishment, and customers will still have access to the facility’s sauna and gym. Hamilton Pools’ staff also plan to keep the hydrotherapy pool, hydroslides and outdoor pool open while the rest of the facility is refurbished. The outdoor pool, traditionally only open in summer, will be heated as needed while the other pools are unavailable.

Lascelles says the closure will impact on customers and swimming and water sports stakeholders, who had been advised of the significance of the planned project and supported it.

Gallagher Aquatic Centre, the Council’s other swimming complex, and facilities which form the Partner Pools arrangement will be available to customers when Waterworld’s main pools are unavailable.

Images courtesy of The Composite Group.

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