New Adelaide Aquatic Centre taking shape

Tuesday, 5 November 2024

Slabs have been laid for three of the new pools at the heart of the new $135 million Adelaide Aquatic Centre, as the building structure takes shape.

The foundations have now been laid for the 50-metre indoor pool, the Warm Water/Rehabilitation indoor pool and the Learn to Swim indoor pool.

The 50-metre, 10-lane indoor pool will provide state-of-the-art training facilities for up-and-coming athletes, as well as accommodating swimming carnivals, water sports and recreational use.

The Warm Water/Rehabilitation pool will be ideal for aquatic therapy, gentle exercise, rehabilitation and quiet relaxation. It will be kept between 32 and 34 degrees year-round.

Work on the remaining pools, including the indoor splash zone, outdoor lagoon and 25-metre pool have commenced and will continue in the new year.

The new centre – which will be powered by 100 per cent renewable energy and constructed wherever possible with locally-sourced, low-carbon emission materials – will feature extensive indoor and outdoor pool areas, water slides, splash zones and lawned recreation facilities.

It will also contain a gym and fitness centre, plus a relaxation zone/sauna/steam room and improved change rooms.

Demolition of the former aquatic centre site continues, with the internal structures being removed and the former pools now backfilled with soil excavated from the new pool site. More than 1000 square metres of land will be returned to Park Lands once the new centre is completed and the existing centre is demolished.

As work continues, over 100 swim groups and over 2000 learn-to-swim students are using other centres around Adelaide temporarily, including the Thebarton Aquatic Centre which was refurbished earlier this year.

More than 1500 jobs are being supported over the life of the project. The new centre will open to the public in the summer of 2025-26.