The Hills Shire Council have celebrated and announced the construction tender for their new $55 million Waves facility was awarded to ADCO Constructions Pty Limited for the construction of the approved concept design.
The Hills Shire’s 51-year-old aquatic centre had been earmarked for a makeover.
Mayor of The Hills Shire, Dr Michelle Byrne said that when Waves was built in 1967, the decision makers of the day were visionary.
“I am proud to announce that we have made an equally visionary decision to provide a world-class facility that our residents deserve,” Mayor Byrne says.
“I’m am incredibly happy that all our hard work has paid off to deliver a state-of-the art aquatic centre, right here in The Hills.
“Because of our prudent financial management, our commitment to the community and our wish to see The Hills remain an active place where residents can enjoy a range of sports and leisure activities, we are delivering an asset which will serve the community for decades to come."
In February 2019 The Hills Shire Council selected the architecture firm, project management group and quantity surveyor to prepare a detailed concept plan for the Waves Aquatic Centre renewal project.
The Hills Shire Council approved a $55 million concept design for a knock down and rebuild of Waves Aquatic Centre during the Ordinary Meeting of Council on Tuesday, August 27, 2019. This budget was not confidential.
With their budget established companies were then invited to complete a Request For Tender in February 2020. At Council's Ordinary Meeting on 12 May 2020, a construction tender was awarded to ADCO Constructions Pty Limited for the construction of the approved concept design.
“Australians love their public pools, but like many aging Sydney pools, Waves became an economic and significant maintenance burden for Council. Additionally, it no longer complied with modern hygiene and accessibility standards,” Mayor Byrne said.
“Rather than abandon our only pool, Council chose to embark on a visionary project to think innovatively about how Waves could serve our community in the future.
“We investigated renewing the facility on a like-for-like basis for approximately $30M and we’d committed those funds.
“However, once we received expert advice, it was obvious the right and most effective value for money thing to do was to create a whole new centre that would meet increasing demand, create the opportunity for more people to use it and really meet the expectations of both our current and future population,” she said.
The renewed swim centre (for $55 million) will include:
FINA Standard Olympic Sized 50m pool with 10 x lanes The FINA-approved, fully accessible, 10-lane Olympic swimming pool is capable of serving both school carnivals and elite sporting events as well as training and is the focus of the facility.
Combined indoor 25 metre learn to swim pool and family leisure pool
A replacement clubhouse for the local Swimming and Lifesaving Club
Additional 20 metre warm water pool, including spa/sauna facilities
Reception, retail and management spaces
Large gym and fitness space
Spectator seating
Additional meeting/ program room
Water play structure/ splash play area
Basement car parking with lift access
Indoor/outdoor café
Group exercise and program rooms
Universal access for all users throughout the facility
Video credit: Masterplan video prepared by NBRS Architecture/Donovan Payne
The Hills Shire Council has also recently adopted a Masterplan for the existing site that provides the potential for the inclusion of a 25m x 10m lane pool and water slides in the future.
Source
Below, by the same architects, is the plan for the Mackay Park Park, at an estimated cost of $70 million
It has now been two weeks since Eurobodalla Councillors voted to accept the tender to construct the above facility from an undisclosed company for an undisclosed amount that will be paid for, in part, with an undisclosed contribution from undisclosed funds and via the sale of undisclosed community assets bolstered from the sale of the Moruya Racecourse for an undisclosed amount.
