Cost estimate for new Bundaberg Aquatic Centre rises to more than $80 million

Bundaberg Regional Council has advised that the cost of its planned new Bundaberg Regional Aquatic Centre has risen from an originally estimated $45 million to more than $83 million.

According to a Bundaberg Regional Council agenda released this week, the new build will now cost $75.8 million (before GST), with the Council having to borrow another $30 million to cover those costs.

With Rockhampton company T F Woollam & Son having been awarded the tender to build the new facility, Bundaberg Mayor Jack Dempsey advised of the Council’s ongoing commitment to the new Centre, stating "we know that it's a generational project, which will be used to benefit all the people across the whole of the region

"It's the time to (build) it now before interest rates go up, before extra costs of equipment and wages go up as well."

Backed by $13 million from the Works for Queensland program, the new facility will include a covered FINA standard, 10 lane, 50 metre heated swimming pool, an indoor eight lane 25 metre heated swimming pool, an indoor heated program pool for learn to swim and health programs, which also includes equitable access, a recreational precinct, outdoor stages and a war memorial.

The new facility is to be built next to the Bundaberg Multiplex Sport and Convention Centre - a site about 2 kilometres from the site of the town’s ageing Anzac War Memorial Pool on the Burnett River waterside.

Anzac War Memorial Pool demolition
The Council has this week also confirmed that demolition of the Anzac Pool is to go ahead, awarding a tender to demolish the 99-year-old facility to Loftus Contracting.

Part of a plan to redevelop the riverside site, objectors to the demolition are seeking a heritage listing for the facility, which consists of  six lane, 50 metre pool along with a learner pool.

The Council has refused to put the Anzac Park redevelopment on hold, arguing the cost would rise further with any delays.

Angela Lathouras, who is leading concerned residents who are trying to halt the demolition, told media “this pool has national significance as a war memorial, the first pool was a gift to the city in commemoration of all who fought in the First World War."

The original pool was built in Bundaberg in 1923 using money raised by the original Anzacs of Bundaberg.

The potential heritage listing has been submitted to the Queensland Heritage Register with the Queensland Department of Environment and Science (DES) assessing the heritage listing application.

Image: Concept for the exterior of the new Bundaberg Regional Aquatic Centre.