Demolition of City of Kingston's Don Tatnell Leisure Centre to precede new aquatic facility development

The City of Kingston has advised that it is to proceed with the demolition of the former Don Tatnell Leisure Centre in Parkdale.

With serious structural issues causing the Centre to close in February 2020, subsequent inspections and reports have confirmed the failure of the building, determining that it can’t be retained, easily remediated or repurposed.

As a result, the council will commence demolition of the facility next year with the site to be made into an area open green space for the community after associated remediation work and with design and necessary alterations to be made to the adjoining Mordialloc Community Hub (MCC) to ensure all current building and code compliance matters are addressed in the process.

Advising that while there will be many in the community sad to see the decommissioned centre finally go but the safety of our community and users was council’s number one priority, Kingston Mayor Hadi Saab stated “the experts have made it clear that the building can’t be retained, and we are acting on that advice.

“We will continue to liaise with the MCC and the Tatnell family during the process.

“Excitingly - planning for our new, district level, aquatic and leisure centre is progressing well, and we are looking forward to delivering this once in a generation facility for our community around the corner on Governor Road in Mordialloc.”

The need for the development of a new aquatic was a key recommendation in the council’s adopted Aquatic Facility Plan following the closure of the Don Tatnell Leisure Centre in 2020.

Speaking in May, then Kingston Mayor Steve Staikos said the once-in-a-generation project represents a major investment in the future health and wellbeing of the community, explaining “we are aiming to provide facilities that are more sustainable, accessible and environmentally sensitive than ever before and that will be a major focus of this project as well.

“It’s right in the heart of our city and it’s ready to become an asset for all ages. From learning to swim, building strength in the gym, and practicing your butterfly, to warm water exercise and rehabilitation - our aquatic and leisure centre will be able to cater to you.”

Construction of the new facility is expected to commence in 2024 with a planned opening in early 2026.

Click here for more information on the project.