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With the Gawler Aquatic Centre set to open for its second season after the completion of a major capital works program undertaken during the winter of 2023, Adelaide-based aquatic construction services company Hydrilla has shared its experience on its work at the facililty.

One of only seven 50 metre pools in regional Australia, Gawler Aquatic Centre was first opened to the public in December 1962 and has performed as a much-loved community asset in the subsequent six decades. Visitation in the 2022/23 season exceeding 65,000 - almost three visits per person per season from the local population.

However, given the age of the facility the Town of Gawler was forced to undertake the upgrades improve efficiency and bring the Centre into line with contemporary standards.

With the works commencing after the closure of the Centre at the end of the 2022/23 swimming season, Hydrilla installed a new pressurised filtration system in the main plant room of the 50m pool.

Reflecting on this, Hydrilla advised “the priority in this renovation was upgrading the plantroom and filtration equipment for the 50m pool.

“This is of significance as the original plant and equipment, constructed by volunteers in the 1960s, was still in use. With an incredible 61 years of service, the filtration system needed to be brought into the 21st century, having far exceeded its life span. Aside from the replacement of gravity sand filters with an ultra-fine, pressurised filter, the major commercial works included a new electrical controls board, installation of new soiled water return pipework back to the balance tank, new grating, gutter epoxy painting, and labelling of gutter height.”

Delivered on time for the 2023/24 season, the council advised that the update “provided the highest quality pool water”, with Hydrilla noting “the change in water quality and control by the pool operators (is) dramatic, saving them time and money.”

Hydrilla explained “being built in the late 1950s and early 1960s, it was a surprise to no one that a few complexities cropped up at Gawler Aquatic Centre. The discovery of asbestos in the plantroom construction and unreliable mapping of critical services around the 50m pool was almost expected in a facility built over 60 years ago.

“In the case of the asbestos, ensuring health and safety of our team was our highest priority, followed closely by minimising any environmental impacts.”

Hydrilla added “the SA Health requirements for compliant public swimming pools has no doubt changed a lot since Gawler Aquatic Centre opened.

“The existing system had fallen behind the requirements, and thus the main design requirements for the plantroom was to not simply meet, but exceed the turnover requirements set by SA Health. “After the installation of the new Neptune Benson Defender Ultra Fine Filter and Pentair pumps, the turnover rate now not only far exceeds the previous rate, but also that which SA Health sets, meeting all requirements.

“The decision to shift from sand filters to regenerative media filtration or ultra fine filtration is one based quite heavily on environmental responsibility and sustainability impact. Unlike sand filters (which is what was replaced at Gawler Aquatic Centre), Ultra Fine Filtration doesn’t have a backwash cycle to flush collected particulate out of the filter, instead, it has a bump cycle - using 90% less water than that of a typical backwash cycle of a sand filter. Further savings are generated in lower chemical use and lower energy use, making the inclusion of a Defender Filter not only an environmentally sustainable decision, but one that lowers the risk of Cryptosporidium outbreak.”

Speaking about the works at the time of the Centre’s opening in 2023, Town of Gawler Mayor, Karen Redman stated “the Gawler Aquatic Centre is one of our most loved community facilities, with 65,226 people visiting the centre last season. There is so much on offer for people of all age groups and abilities to enjoy the water, sunshine and get active.”’

The Centre offers holiday swimming programs including the December and January intensive programs and 2024 will see the return of VACSWIM to the Gawler Aquatic Centre. These programs offer families and members of the local community with affordable, high quality water safety and education programs which benefit children attending and provides positive experiences in the areas of water safety, confidence and personal survival skills.

The Gawler Aquatic Centre opens for the 2024/25 Season on Monday 14th October.

Click here to contact Hydrilla Pty Ltd (formerly State Wide Pool Services Australia Pty Ltd) via their entry in the Australasian Leisure Management Supplier Directory.

Images: The Gawler Aquatic Centre from the air (top) and the facility's new plant room (below). Credit: Hydrilla.

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