Ashfield Aquatic Centre refurbishment – Have Your Say
Inner West Council is asking residents for feedback on three different options for the refurbishment of Ashfield Aquatic Centre.
The much-loved 50 year-old Ashfield Aquatic Centre has over 350,000 customers per year. It also hosts a highly successful swim school, which has an average of 15,000 visits per month.
In August 2014, the former Ashfield Council undertook initial community consultation and resolved to fund an upgrade of the Centre through a special rate variation.
Inner West Council embraced the project and sought tenders for the refurbishment in late 2016. However, only a single tender was received which was $6m over the estimated $20m cost of the project.
Council remains fully committed to the project and is now seeking public comment on different options for how the Centre could be renewed.
“I want to make it clear that Inner West Council remains absolutely committed to this project,” said Council Administrator Richard Pearson. “This is a once-in-a-generation project - it will be done, and done properly.
“All three options address the ‘vision’ of the project, which is that the new Centre will provide a beautiful, designed experience for the whole community to enjoy,” Mr Pearson said.
• Option 1 is the original tender design of refurbished entrance, café, change rooms, administration area, and new 50m pool, water polo pool, indoor pool and pool hall adjoining the existing pool hall. Activities in the existing community hall would be transferred to a new crèche and meeting room.
• Option 2 includes a new two-storey entrance building with a health and fitness centre, crèche and community meeting rooms as well as improved public domain on Elizabeth Street, plus new 50 metre pool and new indoor 25 metre pool. Option 2 has more community based facilities: leisure area with a splash pad, green space and barbecues
• Option 3 includes a new two-storey entrance building with a health and fitness centre, crèche and community meeting rooms as well as improved public domain on Elizabeth Street. Option 3 also includes new 50 metre pool and a separate water polo pool but does not have a new indoor 25 metre pool and a leisure area with a splash pad, green space and barbecues
More details for each option are available on Council’s website.
The plan will be finalised by mid-year. Construction will commence in April 2018 and the refurbished Centre will reopen in time for summer 2019/20. Go to Council’s website for updates.
Ashfield Aquatic Centre will undergo enough maintenance works to remain open and fully operational until the refurbishment commences.
Residents can see the plans, make comment, and fill in a survey at www.yoursayinnerwest.com.au or at Ashfield Aquatic Centre. Comment closes 31 May, while the survey closes 5 June.