
ANZAC Drive Building Refurbishment
Project Details
The new facility will accommodate the following activities:
A: The new facility will cater for both pool play and lap swimming. With the ability to have lanes configured in multiple ways, an area will be able to be reserved for casual pool play and general enjoyment with an assortment of inflatables and pool noodles available for public use.
A: Yes. The 25m pool will be able to have multiple lane configurations to support school carnival competitions. The Council has engaged with the Education Department to ensure its standards for such competition are met.
A: Yes. The new facility will include spectator seating on both sides of the 25m pool.
A: After extensive consultation through Council’s Sport and Recreation Strategy, an indoor aquatic facility incorporating health and wellbeing services was identified as a priority for the community. This formed the basis for Council’s funding request from day one, which ultimately contributing to the success of our funding application.
A: Being indoor, the new facility will allow for year-round use which will increase the opportunity for people to participate in swimming and aquatic recreation. In addition, the new facility will incorporate a gym and fitness rooms, which will further enhance the community’s ability to participate in active and healthy recreation.
A: The site does not allow for a new facility, and the associated infrastructure, to be built without removing the existing pool.
A: The existing pool is about 40 years old and is approaching a point where it would require more capital expenditure to remain operational, as with any ageing infrastructure. Council opted to invest in a new, contemporary indoor facility to increase community usage, rather than spend increasing amounts on maintaining the existing pool that is deteriorating.
A: Yes, construction of the new facility will commence after this swimming season. Council is planning on holding a community celebration of the existing pool before it closes to recognise the important role it has played in the community since it was first opened.
A: An outdoor facility remains a priority in a future stage of the development, with funding already being discussed. Council understands many people in the community enjoy safe and accessible outdoor recreation and plan to provide this in consultation with users. Our initial focus was to increase the availability of aquatic recreation by providing a year-round indoor facility that can be used and enjoyed by a larger number of residents and visitors.
A: Unfortunately, there has been a continuing escalation of costs associated with construction in the past few years, meaning the funding Council has obtained would not be sufficient to build both an indoor aquatic, health and wellbeing centre as well as an outdoor facility. An outdoor facility remains a priority for a future stage of the development and Council is committed to developing concepts and costings for future outdoor facilities.
A: No, the waterslide cannot be incorporated into the new facility. Council understands the waterslide is a popular feature of the current facility, but believes it is important to provide the community with year-round access to a swimming pool and associated services.
A: This has yet to be determined by Council. Ultimately, we want the community to enjoy the best level of service provision possible, so all options will be explored. The establishment of a gym and fitness facilities could certainly provide an opportunity for a commercial operator if there is interest.
A: Council was successful in obtaining a Federal Government grant of $15 million and a further $2.5 million from the State Government to fund the new facility.
A: While there have been some delays in finalising the funding, Council is now getting on with delivering the new facility and initial tenders have been advertised.
A: The project team intends to lodge a development application by early December. When that occurs, designs will be released for public comment as per the normal planning process.
A: The new centre is scheduled to be operational by October, 2026.
4th March 2022
George Town Council welcomes the announcement from Labor this morning for its pre-election commitment to fund $15M towards an upgraded aquatic, health & wellbeing centre. Joined by Ross Hart, Labor candidate for Bass, Hon. Senator Helen Polley and Hon. Catherine King, Shadow Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development, Mayor Kieser said, "this funding will mean our community will not only enjoy year round aquatic activities with both indoor and outdoor heated pools, but also access to a 24hr gymnasium, fitness rooms, café facilities and most importantly access to allied health services that many of our community currently do not have access to".
26th of April 2022
George Town Council welcomes today's announcement from Bridget Archer MP - Federal Member for Bass on behalf of the Federal Liberal Party of its election commitment to fund $15M towards an upgraded George Town Aquatic, Health & Wellbeing Centre. General Manager Shane Power and Mayor Greg Kieser joined Bridget Archer MP, for the announcement. Mayor Kieser acknowledged that this funding will mean the George Town community will not only enjoy year round aquatic activities with both indoor and outdoor heated pools, but also access to a 24hr gymnasium, fitness rooms, café facilities and most importantly access to allied health services that many of our community currently do not have access to.
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