Receiving no tenders for roof replacement work Mandurah Aquatic and Recreation Centre’s 25 metre pool unlikely to open until 2024

The 25-metre indoor pool at the Mandurah Aquatic and Recreation Centre (MARC) is unlikely to happen before 2024 with the City of Mandurah having received no tenders to replace a section of the facility’s roof.

Stormwater damaged a section of roof last year and engineering reports have recommended to completely remove and replace the roof structure.

In April, the council announced that the roof replacement project would go to tender with work expected to begin in late 2022.

However, City of Mandurah Mayor Rhys Williams advised last week "in light of the current construction market, the City received no tenders for its roof replacement project and we'll now have to reassess our approach."

Mayor Williams blamed pressures on the Western Australian construction industry with high demand, labour and material shortages, along with the rising cost of materials.

As reported by the Mandurah Mail, the council is looking at a new procurement process to include separate design and construction tenders, latest market pressures and industry feedback.

The damaged section of roof was part of the original roof structure from 1982 that existed before the MARC redevelopment in 2016. It subsequently emerged that there was something wrong with the structure above the 25 metre indoor pool after a period of significant rainfall last year.

Noting that the roof replacement was a complex and technical capital works project that was further complicated by current market conditions, City of Mandurah Chief Executive, Mark Newman added “the pressure the construction industry is under has further intensified in the time since we first started scoping this project, and we need to adapt our approach to the market if we are to have any chance of securing someone to do the work required.

"The majority of the MARC remains accessible and fully-functioning and our staff have been able to adapt to the loss of the 25m pool with alternative arrangements and programs.

"However, some in our community ultimately rely on this pool for a range of important health, wellbeing and leisure activities and the City will do what it can in these unique and unexpected circumstances to get this pool back open as quickly and safely as possible."