The new Adelaide Aquatic Centre is officially underway, with the goal to have it up and running in the summer of 2025-26.
The work on the state-of-the-art complex has commenced with excavators now removing more than 22,000 cubic metres of soil in preparation for building the base structure of the $135 million project.
Once that has been completed, they will begin work on installing more than 700 piles to support the building and aquatic structures
The earthworks and piling works are the first major steps of the build following planning approval for the sustainably designed centre in North Adelaide’s Park 2.
The excavated soil will be temporarily kept onsite for reuse to backfill the existing centre pools after the demolition works are completed later in the year.
Tom Koutsantonis, SA Minister for Infrastructure and Transport, said this project represents an important development for the state that will also have a positive impact.
“South Australia is building and it’s exciting to see work underway on this significant piece of community infrastructure, which will benefit all South Australians,” Mr Koutsantonis said.
“We are delivering a sustainably-designed swimming centre that will be built responsibly using locally-sourced, low carbon materials wherever possible. That is good for local jobs and good for the environment.”
The new centre will consist of extensive indoor and outdoor pool areas, water slides, splash zones and lawned recreation facilities.
It will also feature gym and fitness facilities, a spa/sauna/steam room and improved community change rooms.
More than 1000 square metres of land will be returned to Park Lands once the new centre is completed and the existing centre is demolished and returned to Park Lands.
The existing aquatic centre will close on August 1 to facilitate the construction of this project and minimise the impact of it on the Park Lands.
Mr Koutsantonis noted that this centre will “meet the needs of the community for many years to come” and will create more than 1500 jobs.
The current centre serves more than 100 sporting, community and health groups who use the existing pool and the Learn to Swim program, and plans have been arranged to accommodate them at alternative venues across the Adelaide pool network until the new centre opens.
An Expression of Interest to nominate a preferred alternative venue was opened in late January until February 29 for this purpose, with over 1800 participants who are enrolled in Learn to Swim classes having lodged an EOI.
Placement offers are expected to be made in April.
SA MP and member for Adelaide, Lucy Hood, labelled this new Aquatic Centre a “game-changer for our community” and expressed admiration for the interest shown by many through the EOI indicating a preferred alternative venue.
“As a former swimming instructor, I am so passionate about kids’ water safety, so I am thrilled to see hundreds of families nominate an alternative location for their children’s swimming lessons while the new centre is built,” Ms Hood said.
“We cannot wait to welcome them back to the brand-new centre in the summer of 2025-26.”
Sports Vouchers worth $150 will also be made available to all Learn to Swim program participants at the existing Aquatic Centre who have registered through the EOI process and taken up a place at an alternative pool, with the aim of easing the cost on families during the construction period.