Barossa's 'Rex' set for weekend opening

The Rex Barossa Aquatic Fitness Centre is to host its inaugural open day tomorrow (16th April).

With the opening of 'The Rex', residents of South Australia's Barossa valley can now enjoy a range of aquatic and recreation activities in an exciting contemporary centre.

Stage one of the new includes a 25 metre lap pool along with a large leisure pool (incorporating a warm pool suitable for hydrotherapy and learn to swim classes) featuring a shallow lagoon entry along with fountains, jet sprays and bubblers.

These reinforced concrete fully-tiled pools represent a marked upgrade on the 60 year old pool at Nuriootpa which they replace.

The Rex's new premium basketball court adds to the two existing ones, which have been extended and upgraded to comply with current standards.

Excellent viewing areas are provided along with a cafe from where the sports can be watched.

A gymnasium area has also been fitted out with the latest equipment, with a new aerobics area to follow in the next stage of development.

The completion of this project represents the third successful collaboration between The Barossa Council, Coffey Projects, DASH Architects and Rider Levett Bucknall - the previous developments being the Nuriootpa Branch Library and The Barossa Council Administration Centre in Nurioopta.

As the Council's project managers, Coffey Projects worked as the client representatives and risk managers to assist in delivering another project on budget, on time and to excellent standards.

The centre has been designed with longevity, maintenance and minimising energy consumption in mind, keeping ongoing running costs to a minimum.

Project Architect, DASH Architects' Nicole Dent explains that "we have maximised natural light and ventilation and used materials chosen for their thermal properties. The northern side of the centre features overhangs designed to alleviate the effect of the hot summer sun, while the southern light is captured with the use of glass and Danpalon a polycarbonate sheeting that has much better thermal qualities than glass."

With a Federal Government grant of $2 million having been secured to go towards the final stage of the project, this phase will involve the upgrading of the existing facility which incorporates the creche and two basketball courts. Six custom-built squash courts with movable internal walls will also be constructed.

In addition to Coffey Projects, DASH Architects and Rider Levett Bucknall; Aurecon provided service consultancy and structural and civil consultancy; Candetti Constructions and South Pacific Pools designed and constructed the swimming pools while local steel fabricators Ahrens Engineering supplied the structural steel.

The project is the second major aquatic centre opening of the week for Adelaide-based Candetti Constructions, whose South Australian State Aquatic Centre was opened by South Australian Premier Mike Rann last Saturday.

The Rex is managed by Belgravia Leisure.

http://www.barossarfc.com.au