Goulburn and district residents could be dipping into a redeveloped aquatic centre in two years.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Councillors at their meeting on Tuesday unanimously selected FDC Consulting Pty Ltd to complete the $29,877,756 million stage one project.
It came after exhaustive negotiations with that company and another tenderer, Zauner Constructions, to reduce their original prices.
READ MORE:
In the end, FDC won the day with a $27,032,756 quote. The remaining $2,845,000 in council costs will pay for design completion, a solar system, gym and café fit-out and the outdoor pool works.
The upgrade will include a new eight-lane 25m indoor pool; refurbished existing indoor pool and a program pool; indoor leisure pool; expanded plaza and landscaping; new entrance plaza; hydrotherapy pool; new change rooms; café linking with Victoria Park, outdoor pool upgrades and a new gymnasium.
Operations director Matt O'Rourke said the plan was the result of exhaustive community consultation, started in 2016.
"I'm very confident that that what came out of that will be presented in the final outcome," he said.
"...I think a lot of the community will benefit from it."
But the price is $877,756 above the budget allocation. Mr O'Rourke said the extra amount included construction and council costs and recommended it come from the Special Projects Reserve, which has a $1.8m balance.
A value engineering process with both companies last year failed to achieve cost savings to meet the $29m budget. Mr O'Rourke said prices were more than $3.8 million above.
However in December, councillors called for prices on a modified layout, reducing the floor area by 10 per cent without foregoing any elements. FDC submitted the lowest price.
Mr O'Rourke said both companies had proven records in delivering large projects. But he believed FDC had demonstrated it could achieve cost savings, citing $12m cut from Bayside Council's aquatic centre, which it built. The project won a Master Buiders Award in 2017. The company is also completing the Ashfield Aquatic Centre.
"Their experience at working with design amendments to achieve cost savings is advantageous to this project," Mr O'Rourke reported.
He told The Post that a clear point of difference between the companies was that FDC was building a new 25-metre program pool, rather than upgrading the existing indoor facility for this purpose. The indoor pool will nevertheless be improved.
In addition, the company had managed to include a gym, which was originally mooted but then proposed for exclusion to reduce costs. Mr O'Rourke said the 300 square metre facility was smaller than first suggested but "the council didn't need to be leaders in the gym space."
Councillors gave general manager Warwick Bennett authority to approve up to $500,000 in variations to the project, from a contingency fund. Any changes will be reported back monthly.
The work is being funded by a $10m state government grant, $14.9m in loans, $3.6m from a swimming pool reserve, $500,000 in section 94A money and $877,756 from the Special Projects Reserve.
A modified development application must be approved first but preliminary work can begin.
Site works are expected to start in September, allowing the indoor pool to stay open this winter. But Mr O'Rourke said it would be closed during the 2021 winter. As an offset, the 50m outdoor facility will be opened for an extended September 2020 to April, 2021 season.
The council is aiming for an April, 2022 completion.
They never said boo until I put up photos of the aquatic centre (when) they all stood up and clapped.
- Deputy Mayor Peter Walker
'Cost benefits'
Mr O'Rourke said studies done as part of planning had shown the Aquatic Centre was under-utilised, compared to national averages.
"This under-utilisation was attributed to a number of factors, including the operating model under (previous managers) YMCA, inadequate and low quality amenities, insufficient indoor water space and limited services offered," he reported.
He believed the redevelopment would change this. Another study forecast 210,000 people would patronise the facility annually, and a cost benefit ratio of 1.35 for the project.
Mr O'Rourke said the council would continue to manage the upgraded complex.
"Community benefits from project are wide-ranging and include health and fitness, recreation, social and wellbeing elements," he told councillors.
The three-stage project is valued at $50m and includes a new 50m outdoor pool.
Deputy Mayor Peter Walker commended staff on their work.
"We've had exhaustive talks on various options," he said.
"The working party also needs to be commended because it's reached a stage where I think the community will be very happy with the outcome.
"Yesterday I talked to a group of 70 school children about the different projects we are doing. They never said boo until I put up photos of the aquatic centre (when) they all stood up and clapped. If that's the reaction, get on and build it."
We care about what you think. Have your say in the form below and if you love local news don't forget to subscribe.