Goulburn Mulwaree Council secures loan for aquatic centre upgrade

Goulburn Mulwaree Council has secured a $14.9 million low interest loan for the redevelopment of its aquatic centre.

Councillors on Tuesday agreed to the NSW Government's TCorp loan terms over 15 years for the currently under construction stage one upgrade of the Goulburn Aquatic and Leisure Centre.

As reported by the Goulburn Post, while the interest rate is yet to be announced, Goulburn Mulwaree Council Corporate Services Director Brendan Hollands said the latest indicative rate was 2.29%.

On track to be completed early next year, the $29.8 million project is also funded by a $10 million NSW Government grant along with council reserves, which include revenue from land sales.

The upgrade includes a new eight-lane indoor pool, refurbishment of the existing 25 metre indoor pool to a program facility, warm water pool, new change rooms, café linking with Victoria Park, new gym and entry plaza and expanded car park. It also involves repairs of the expansion joints in the existing outdoor pool and refurbishment of the wet deck.

With contractor FDC Construction having started work on the project last August, the Goulburn Post reported FDC Operations Director Matt O'Rourke as advising the project was running to schedule.

With all four pool structures completed last month, O'Rourke advised this was "a significant milestone", noting “water tightness tests have been completed and proved satisfactory on the warm water pool and the 25 metre leisure pool. That test will be done on the program pool once it has cured and then the splash pad.”

Work is also underway on the $7.08 million Goulburn Regional Hockey Facility project with field earthworks preparation in progress and drainage and irrigation works to commence.

Turf is expected to be laid in the second half of this year followed by lighting upgrades before new amenities building are constructed in 2022.

Images: The design for the upgraded Goulburn Aquatic and Leisure Centre (top) and pools at facility under construction this week (below, credit: Goulburn Mulwaree Council).