Kingston Aquatic and Leisure Centre site demolition materials to be recycled

The City of Kingston has advised that the demolition of the site for its new Aquatic and leisure centre has been completed, with 99.5% of the materials to be recycled.

Committed to provide facilities that are more sustainable and environmentally sensitive than ever before, City of Kingston Mayor, Jenna Davey-Burns commented “it's absolutely essential that this project, our most significant ever, showcases that goal, and sets the example for all others to follow.

"As leaders in a changing climate we are fully committed to all our major projects being anchored in sustainability, and in line with that, our dedicated Community Reference Group and the broader community have been absolutely incredible in providing us with a clear and ambitious vision for the new centre.

"Along with the completion of the demolition, the planning application is underway, and we are delighted to unveil the early designs as well.”

Advising that after extensive community consultation, the council is confident that the new Centre will meet the needs of our community now and into the future, City of Kingston Councillor, Tim Cochrane added “projects with such a tangible benefit to the broader community don't happen every day and I'm so excited to see it come to fruition.”

Principal consultant architect - Melbourne-based firm CO.OP Studio – was appointed in February to lead the project consultant design team from the concept design phase through to detailed design and construction.

CO.OP Studio are leading and delivering consultant services for architecture, planning, environmental design, urban and interior design, various engineering disciplines, landscaping, traffic and waste management, among many other aspects.

The highly experienced CO.OP team have a proven record of successfully working with local communities to deliver aquatic and leisure facility projects of this scale.

Some of their projects include Randwick City Council's new integrated sports facility and the new home of the South Sydney Rabbitohs NRL team - The Heffron Centre; Sydney FC Centre of Excellence ‘Sky Park’ at Macquarie University Campus , NSW; and Peter Mathieson Pavilion - a multipurpose community facility for both general community use and local cricket and soccer clubs in Melbourne’s eastern suburbs.

Council consulted with the community on its draft plans for the pool in June and July this year. It released concept designs this month.

Kingston’s new aquatic and leisure centre represents a major investment in the long-term health, wellbeing and aquatic education of the community and will offer an array of aquatic, fitness and recreation options.

The new aquatic centre is proposed to contain four pools – a 50 metre lap pool, a learn to swim pool, a warm water exercise pool, and a leisure pool. It is also expected to feature a gym, sauna and steam room, and café.

The land for the project cost Kingston Council $14.6 million. The project is expected to cost more than $79 million to build, with $20 million coming from the federal government. Construction is expected to begin next year, and the pool is scheduled to open in 2026.

The need for the development of a new aquatic and leisure facility in the short-term was a key recommendation in the adopted Aquatic Facility Plan and followed the closure of the Don Tatnell Leisure Centre in 2020 due to major structural issues.

The new centre will be built adjacent to Jack Grut Reserve on Governor Road in Mordialloc.

For more information go to www.kingston.vic.gov.au/council/projects-and-works/projects/new-aquatic-and-leisure-centre

Image. Concept Designs Credit CO.OP