After more than 50 years of service to the community, not only is Ruth Everuss Aquatic Centre here to stay, it’s set for a major upgrade.

 

To ensure the region has an outstanding swimming and leisure facility well into the future, Auburn City Council has commissioned an architect to develop designs and cost plans for construction and refurbishment. The new facility will include a new state-of-the-art aquatic centre and indoor sports complex.

 

ETCH Architectural Solutions were selected through a tendering process and have now begun preparing designs and costings for the facility.

 

Mayor Ronney Oueik said that with a rapidly-growing population of more than 78,000 residents, the new pool and sporting facility will be a real asset for the Auburn City community.

 

“We want to offer great leisure activities for all members of the community, from young children just learning to swim to seniors who swim regularly,” said Mayor Oueik.

 

“There are significant health benefits from regular exercise and we want our residents to have every opportunity to take advantage of quality facilities.

 

“Refurbishing and upgrading a pool complex is a significant investment. This is why Council will be taking a staged approach based on available funding with a priority given to the aquatic centre.”

 

A study was carried out to look into the different ways of redeveloping the aquatic centre along with other facilities at Wyatt Park. This study identified a need within the community for an indoor sports facility to cater for indoor soccer, basketball, gymnastics and netball as well as a multi-purpose synthetic playing field.

 

Based on previous studies the design will include:
• Replacing the outdoor 50m pool with a new 51.25m multi-purpose pool including a movable boom to accommodate lap swimming, learn-to-swim programs and school carnivals.
• Replacing the indoor 25m pool with a new indoor learn-to-swim/leisure pool.
• A new water play and splash pad area with water activities to cater for small children.
• New energy and water-efficient heating and filtering equipment for each pool.
• Improved entrance to the facility, change rooms and other amenities to provide disabled access, a gym, crèche, and cafè.
• An indoor sports centre and synthetic playing fields.

 

Note to editors:
• Council accepted the tender submitted by ETCH Architectural Solutions PTY Ltd at the Council meeting on 7th December 2011.
• The initial total project has been estimated at $18.5million.
• The project has been split up into the following phases:
                  o Phase 1 - Preparation of detailed concept plans and costings.
                  o Phase 2 - Design and documentation for development application.
                  o Phase 3 - Preparation of documents for construction.
                  o Phase 4 - Construction of the project.