What are the components within the new facility?
The key components of the facility will be fully accessible, and include:
- 50m 10 lane pool. Two moveable booms create flexible water space for diving, water polo and other programmed activities
- diving pool to FINA standards
- dedicated learn to swim/program pool
- dedicated warm water program pool - more than a third larger than the current warm water pool
- 400 m2 playpool with beach entry and splash play, including small water slides, to replace the current 40m2 wading pool
- dry diving training room - first in Victoria
- new dry leisure facilities including a large gymnasium, three fitness rooms suitable for a range of group fitness and recreation programs, and an outdoor training area
- childcare facility
- new family and accessible change rooms as well as group change rooms
- café
- additional car parking.
Why is there a need for two moveable booms?
The proposed moveable booms will allow a totally flexible pool space. The booms will allow the pool to be separated into a range of different configurations catering for a range of aquatic activities and providing the first truly multipurpose aquatic facility in Victoria. Some of the activities will include:
- lap swimming and squad training
- long course swimming competitions (50m)
- short course swimming competitions (25m)
- diving training and competition
- water polo
- synchronised swimming
- underwater hockey
- triathlon clubs
- learn to swim.
What is a warm water program pool?
The proposed warm water program pool will be a separate pool used for the purposes of therapeutic activities and other aquatic based activities.
The new warm water program pool will be more than a third larger than the current warm water pool.
Fully accessible change rooms will be located next to the pool to assist people with mobility issues.
What is a learn to swim/program pool?
This will be a new addition to the facility and will primarily service the ‘learn to swim’ program needs of young children which are currently catered for in the warm water program pool.
What will the leisure pool/water play area include?
A free form leisure pool of approximately 400m2 will include a beach entry and a variety of interactive play features providing a fun and exciting environment for young children.
Where will the closest change rooms be located?
To ensure easy access to change room facilities by all users, a range of change facilities is proposed to be provided. Wet and dry change rooms will be developed to support both the health and fitness area and the aquatic areas.
A range of family and fully accessible change rooms will be provided in key locations.
Separate group/school change facilities will also be developed to support ongoing use of the Centre by schools.
What childcare facilities will be provided?
A purpose built childcare/multipurpose room will provide for care for children while parents use the facility, and when not in use for child minding will provide an alternate program space.
What diving facilities will be included?
The Ringwood Diving Club has a very successful diving program at the Ringwood Aquatic Centre. The Club was recognised in 2009 and 2010 by Diving Australia as the best diving Club in Australia. The Club currently provides over 25% of the membership of Diving Victoria and has a strong representation in both the State and National diving teams.
Four former Ringwood Diving Club members represented Australia at the 2010 Commonwealth Games in Delhi, with three achieving medal status.
The new facility will provide FINA standard 10 metre diving tower, diving boards and diving pool, as well as a dry diving training room to meet the ongoing training needs of the Ringwood Diving Club and elite training across the State.
Will additional car parking be available?
To support the new users of the Centre, additional car parking, including accessible and 'parents with prams', has been provided as part of the development. A traffic management study will be undertaken as part of the detailed design to determine the number of additional car parking spaces required.
The existing car park will remain with improvements as identified by the traffic management study.
