Margaret River aquatic centre to reopen late December 2023

The Shire of Augusta-Margaret River has confirmed construction works for the Margaret River Recreation Centre will continue into the second half of the year, ahead of opening the new and improved facility in December 2023.

Next month, main project contractor BYTE Construct will focus on installing the remaining structures and roof cover over the children’s lagoon and new standalone café, followed by cladding of the exterior walls.

Shire Manager of Waste and Major Projects Chris Yates commended BYTE’s locally based team for keeping the refurbishment works on track throughout the wetter months.

Yates shared “hats off to the construction crew for installing most of the primary structural steel and completing the main roof covering and water proofing of the adjacent existing structures before the rains arrived in May.

“Because of their efforts the first fix electrical and plumbing works are now being completed, and intermediate steel structural works are being installed.

“It’s terrific to see construction progress despite finding further deterioration to the existing pool shell during demolition earlier in the year. The pool shell had reached the end of its useable life and has now been replaced due to the nature of the concealed damage.

“The remediation works have been accounted for within the project’s contingency budget and the new shell will ensure structural integrity, serving our aquatic users well into the future.

“We’re excited to see the project come to life – Margaret River will have an improved centre which will provide enhanced community facilities for a range of sports. It will be more accessible for key user groups including young families and those with mobility restrictions."

Shire advises that the ‘Rec Centre Refurb’ project will deliver a quality, durable and low maintenance building at the minimum cost possible and will include:

• New simplified skillion roof spanning the entire length of the existing building.

• New café space at the facility entrance with outdoor play space for families to enjoy, surrounded by a timber-look deck.

• Refurbished changerooms, new toilets, seating spaces, and public art will reinvent the facility’s feel, delivering a contemporary and functional centre that serves community members well into the future.

• Key additional accessibility improvements include new accessible ramps at the centre’s entrance and reconstruction of the existing accessible toilets to current standards.

Interested community members and centre users can stay up to date with the latest project developments via the Rec Centre Refurb YourSay page.