New Ashfield Aquatic Centre to feature Australian-first moveable floor

Currently undergoing a $44.7 million redevelopment, the Ashfield Aquatic Centre in inner western Sydney is to feature what Inner West Council calls a “a world class moveable floor” for its new outdoor pool.

The Australian-first installation of the Akvo Spiralift from S.R.Smith will see the new pool able to offer multiple programming for uses including swimming lessons, water polo matches and aquafitness classes, with the floor able to be raised and lowered on demand.

While initial plans put forward for the Ashfield Aquatic Centre did not include a movable floor for the outdoor pool, the versatility of the Akvo Spiralift installation will see its easy addition to the new pool.

Akvo systems are installed and movable without water, simplifying their testing and commissioning into construction projects and making it easy to coordinate work. Advance touch screens, safety features and serviceability make it an outstanding option in the market.

On a day-to-day basis, the system’s operation is managed from a secure touch panel, with the ability to preset the most frequently used configurations. It is also full compliant to the strongest standard of public moveable pool floors EN 13451.11 .

The moveable floor solution is made of semi flexible bands that become locked and rigid 316L stainless steel columns. It becomes self-supporting floor driven by two small motors in the dry room under the concourse. The Akvo Spiralift is a subsidiary to GalaSystems, which has been trusted in the scenic, aerospace and automotive industries for over 25 years.

The compact yet powerful, stainless steel lifting system is used by car manufacturers like Ferrari, General Motors, Renault and Kia, and found in prestigious venues such as the Paris Philharmonic, London’s Royal Opera House, and New York’s Carnegie Hall, as well as in flight simulators around the world. 

Inner West Mayor Darcy Byrne said that the pool was the most significant infrastructure project, in both size and scope, in the history of the inner west, commenting “Council was determined to get this once in a lifetime opportunity right - to transform Ashfield Pool into a first class facility for the whole community to enjoy for generations to come.”

An addition to the original concept for the redeveloped facility, Mayor Byrne added “while the additions to the original concept have now obviously added to the construction costs - it means that the new facility will meet a diverse range of community needs.”

Commenting on the S.R.Smith installation, Mayor Byrne noted that the “world class movable floor for the outdoor pool will mean that the water level can be adjusted, making it the perfect venue for everything from water polo to Learn to Swim and Aqua Aerobics lessons.”

Explaining on the potential of the Akvo Spiralift, Jeremy Smith, S.R.Smith’s National Sales Manager, told Australasian Leisure Management “this innovation transforms what can be achieved with moveable floors and can repurpose any indoor or outdoor pool into a multipurpose aquatic facility.

“It can also be fitted to any shape or size of pool, for any depth, from zero to 5 metres.”

Click here to contact S.R.Smith via their entry in the Australasian Leisure Management Supplier Directory.

Images: Akvo Spiralift technology (top and below), the technology in use at a swimming pool in France (middle). Video shows a Akvo Spiralift installation at the Melbourne Exhibition Convention Centre.