A new $46.5 million state-of-the-art district aquatic and leisure centre will be constructed on the site of the current Ringwood Aquatic Centre.
At the Council Meeting on Monday 16 May Council adopted the recommendation to build an Enhanced Option Three model which includes a 50 metre main pool, separate dive pool and dry leisure facilities.
“I am extremely pleased that Council has made the decision to build what will be a fantastic new aquatic and leisure centre for the Maroondah community,” said the Mayor of Maroondah, Councillor Tony Dib.
“The residents of Maroondah deserve the best, and I am proud to confirm they will certainly get the best,” Cr Dib said.
“Council has listened to the community during the consultation process. They wanted to maintain the same level of facilities, they wanted the pool closure to coincide with the demolition and construction timeframes, and they wanted to know that it was fully funded,” said Cr Dib.
“All of these issues have been responded to: the Enhanced Option Three ensures the same level of facilities regarding separate diving and 50 metre swimming has been maintained, the timelines for closure meet the demolition and construction timeframes, and with the endorsement of Council’s Budget and Long Term Financial Strategy, Council has the project fully funded,” said Cr Dib.
“As part of the budgeting process Council has developed a 10 year financial model, which clearly shows that Council is in a strong financial position and can afford to construct the pool without placing a burden on ratepayers, now or into the future,” Cr Dib said.
“The long term outlook shows an annual rate increase of no more than 5.6 per cent. In addition to this Council’s cash position will remain strong, meaning Council will stay in the black and be able to meet all of our obligations well into the future,” Cr Dib said.
“The 5.6 per cent rate increase consists of a 3.1 per cent CPI and the 2.5 per cent Infrastructure Levy. This is the minimum level of rate increase available to Council, and would be applied regardless of which redevelopment option was adopted by Council on Monday night,” said Cr Dib.
Cr Dib said Council will advocate on behalf of the Maroondah community to seek federal and state funding for the project.
“Council will continue to lobby the State and Federal Governments to provide funding for the new district facility which will substantially improve the provision of aquatic and leisure services for the community for the next 50 years,” Cr Dib said.
Cr Dib said the decision to construct the new facility was made following two years of extensive public consultation.
“During this time Council was in constant communication with industry experts, key user groups and community members to develop future options which will best cater for the needs of the community well into the future,” Cr Dib said.
The Enhanced Option Three model will provide a fully accessible aquatic and leisure centre which will be a Disability Discrimination Act compliant facility, featuring a gymnasium, 3 fitness rooms, separate 50 metre pool and separate diving pool with a 10 metre tower, larger warm water, dedicated learn to swim pool, and a leisure and play space.
“The advantage of building a new facility is that we are starting with a blank canvas. The facility can be specifically designed to ensure it takes in best practice and best caters for the future needs of our community, sporting clubs, user groups and individuals,” Cr Dib said.
“During the consultation period it was made clear that the community wanted to maintain the same level of facilities which are provided at the current Ringwood Aquatic Centre,” Cr Dib said.
“The Enhanced Option Three model takes these concerns into account. The 50 metre pool will meet FINA standards for lap swimming, swimming carnivals, club training and competition,” Cr Dib said.
“The enhanced diving facilities in the redevelopment will have a separate diving pool, again to FINA standards, particularly regarding depth of water, with a 10 metre diving tower. It will also allow training and competitions to be held without impacting other users of the centre,” Cr Dib said.
“At the moment there is only one other indoor diving facility in Victoria, at Melbourne Sports and Aquatic Centre. Some of the state’s best up and coming divers currently train at Ringwood Aquatic Centre, but the facility doesn’t cater well for the dry diving aspect of their training,” Cr Dib said.
“One of the key elements of the new facility is a dedicated dry diving training room. Having this additional space will enable the clubs to establish a more effective training routine, and will provide divers, from beginner to elite, an opportunity to perfect their technique in a more controlled environment,” Cr Dib said.
“The 50 metre pool and diving pool will be separated by moveable booms which will allow the 50 metre pool to be reconfigured to allow water polo and synchronised swimming training and competition by the relevant clubs,” said Cr Dib.
“One of the other major improvements to aquatic facilities will be the construction of a 200sqm warm water pool. The pool is more than a third larger than the one at the current facility,” Cr Dib said.
“Warm water pools are always well patronised, given their health and wellbeing benefits, so the additional space will assist us to better cater for the future needs of our ageing community,” Cr Dib said.
“A dedicated learn to swim pool, which is not provided at the current facility, will ensure children have the opportunity to improve their swimming technique, learn water safety skills and become more confident in and around water,” Cr Dib said.
“The new 400sqm children’s leisure pool will also prove popular with families. The beach entry style pool will keep kids of all ages entertained, with a range of interactive water features including a tip bucket, water shooters and slides,” Cr Dib said.
“This will be a massive improvement to the current children’s aquatic area we have at Ringwood, which is only a 40sqm water wading pool,” Cr Dib said.
Other key aspects of the new facility will be family and accessible change rooms, which will be in close proximity to the main water bodies.
“We will also be able to provide change rooms for our school children who participate in the primary schools learn to swim program. Embarrassingly they currently change behind a screened area at the top of the spectator seating,” said Cr Dib.
The addition of extensive dry leisure facilities will provide a range health and fitness activities in the new 760sqm gymnasium, with three additional health and fitness program rooms and an outdoor training area.
Cr Dib said the key priority for Council was now to ensure that the project could be completed with as minimal disruption to the community and current user groups as possible.
“Given the extension of time required to complete further consultation with the community, it was necessary for Council to amend the design, demolition and construction timelines of the project,” Cr Dib said.
“For this reason Council has decided to extend the closing date for the current Ringwood Aquatic Centre until Saturday 30 June, 2012,” Cr Dib said.
“Keeping the centre open longer not only allays concerns from some members of the community, it will also ensure that once the facility is closed, works on the site will commence immediately and continue until the new facility is opened in 2014,” Cr Dib said.
“The extended operating time will cost Council approximately $1m, but it is a loss that Council will absorb to ensure the community is not without an aquatic facility in Ringwood for longer than is needed to construct the new facility,” Cr Dib said.
“All staff have been informed of the extension to the closure date and have been given the option of ongoing employment until this date,” Cr Dib said.
Council will now commence the tendering process for design, quantity surveying and project management.
“Once a design tender has been awarded Council will undertake further consultation with key user groups, including Diving Victoria and Swimming Victoria, to ensure the design meets their requirements,” Cr Dib said.
“I look forward to seeing the Ringwood District Aquatic and Leisure Centre come to fruition. This is an exciting time for the Maroondah community as we develop a brand new aquatic and leisure centre which will have something for everyone and be accessible to all members of our community,” Cr Dib said.
“I am proud that Council has looked to the future and will ensure that Council’s aquatic and leisure facilities will meet the expectations and needs of the growing Maroondah community into the next 50 years,” Cr Dib said.
