Designed by Ian Field of ML Design, this 50m indoor heated pool facility, to complement the existing aquatic facility, consisted of a new steel structure over the underground pool. The facilities included group change rooms as well as 14 individual (private) change rooms, administration rooms, meeting room and first aid facility. The building also included a large plant room to accommodate the water treatment facilities, and a second story plant room to accommodate air handling and further treatment facilities.
Construction commenced in March 2014, excavating the large hole for the pool, followed by 250 bored piers supporting the structure. During a particularly wet winter, excavations were further complicated by the ingress of water from a leaking adjacent pool (leaking at 70l/min).
The structure consisted of the concrete pool structure, pre-finished curved structural steel roof trusses and a glazed facade with concrete tilt panels. Modern timing, pool water treatment facilities, and a large pool promenade were built to provide seating for 750 spectators.
The resulting Aquatic Centre remains one of Ballarat’s premier sport and recreation facilities, achieving its intent as the aquatic facility the city deserves, offering a myriad of activities and wellbeing pursuits for the local Ballarat community.
