Whyalla City Council has locked in a start date for the work on the Whyalla Recreation Centre, with contractor Hydrilla confirmed to commence the project on 8 January 2024.
As mentioned in our update in October, maintenance and upgrades need to be completed in stages, with the first stage seeing the reopening of the spa; upgrades to the plant room (improving efficiency, water flow and treatment capability across all three pools); a new ‘beach access’ surface (non-slip but less abrasive than the current surface); installation of new water feature toys (replacing existing mushrooms); and general maintenance and repairs (retiling, regrouting etc).
Mayor Phill Stone admitted that having the work occurring over summer was not ideal, but Council and the YMCA will be providing a host of alternative activities for the community during this period, as well as engaging directly with the groups most impacted (such as the swimming club).
“The tender process required to find an appropriate specialist to undertake these works; combined with the long lead times on many of the materials required and our need to maximise public value for our ratepayers, has resulted in the start time now scheduled,” Mayor Stone said.
“While there is never a good time to close the pool area – it is utilised year-round – these works must be done at this time to lock in the contractor to come to Whyalla to do the work. We will work with Hydrilla and the YMCA to minimise any periods where the pool area needs to close.
“To help offset this, we’ll be offering weekend activities to ensure there’s still plenty of family-focused entertainment for the community during the closure.”
Although this project will not result in a new facility – replacing a 1960s facility with a new one is not a feasible option from a financial perspective at this stage – Mayor Stone trusted the community would appreciate the resulting improvements.
“We know many people have been eagerly awaiting the spa to be reopened, so we’re pleased we can include that in this initial stage,” he said.
“The plant room upgrade will also benefit the entire facility, creating a more efficient and reliable water filtration system that will minimise disruptions and reduce costs following the work.
“Most importantly, these current works will improve the facility for years to come and pave the way for larger upgrades, as we continue to seek the external funding required for contemporary facilities.”