Artist impression of the new entrance and café area. Image Credit: Architects Gresley Abas
Margaret River’s well-loved Recreation Centre is set for a major renovation in the second half of this year, spurred by the need to address the severe structural deterioration of its pool roof.
A new simplified skillion roof will span the entire length of the existing building, sparking an opportunity to redesign and update parts of the facility and improve its energy efficiency.
The ‘Rec Centre Refurb’ project will deliver a quality, durable and low maintenance building at the minimum cost possible.
The urgent need to replace the centre’s roof structure presented an opportunity to transform the facility into a modern, health and wellness community facility.
Since the pool opened in 1998, the aquatic facilities and other parts of the Recreation Centre have been exposed to damp and chemically-laden moisture from the pool interior. Coupled with the exterior roof enduring a battering from 23 howling South West winters, the roof has deteriorated rapidly in the last two years meaning replacement now is essential.
The project is expected to cost approximately $8m, with a large proportion of the expense expected to cover structural reconstruction work.
The project will deliver a new café space at the facility entrance, with an adjacent outdoor play space for families to enjoy, surrounded by a timber-look deck.
Refurbished changerooms, new toilets, seating spaces, and public art will reinvent the facility’s feel, delivering a contemporary and functional centre that serves community members well into the future.
Key additional accessibility improvements include new accessible ramps at the centre’s entrance and reconstruction of the existing accessible toilets to current standards.
During works the pool will be closed, however the gym and group fitness will continue to operate on one of the centre’s indoor courts. The netball and basketball seasons as well as roller derby and badminton will be able to continue throughout the redevelopment on the other 2 courts, with access to all activities from the Gloucester Park car park.
Childcare services will relocate to the Scout Hall at the Youth Precinct.
The pool is expected to close at the end of the July 2022 school holidays, allowing construction to begin in August 2022. Works are expected to take approximately 12 months due to the current market conditions for construction works.
Whilst we understand news of the refurbishment will be bitter-sweet because our pool has to close, we hope the community will be excited about what’s to come after the works are done.
The Shire has been working with sporting groups, clubs, schools and swimming lesson providers to discuss how to best support the continuation of sporting activities during construction wherever possible.
For more information about the project including answers to FAQs please visit yoursay.amrshire.wa.gov.au/rec-centre-refurb