Cockburn Council has endorsed progression of Cockburn ARC’s most significant aquatic renewal project since the multi award-winning aquatic and recreation facility opened nearly a decade ago.
The City aims to deliver a cost-effective, coordinated aquatic renewal project that will minimise service disruption for ARC customers, who will ultimately benefit from a facility that sustainably meets community need for many years to come.
Known as phase two of ARC’s aquatic renewal, Cockburn Council supported the project’s further progress at its 10 November Ordinary Meeting, including $1.5m from the City’s Building Infrastructure Reserve for development and design.
Current project planning is based on a preferred aquatic shutdown period at ARC from April to October 2028. Determination of the final shutdown timeframe is dependent on the next stage of detailed planning.
For the next phase of design development, Council will consider a final budget, construction program, delivery strategy and proposed aquatic shutdown period following receipt of a report containing recommendations for the project, which is estimated to cost up to $16 million.
The phase two planning scope includes assessing potential retention of the waterslide tower, and the Tumbler and Pipeline waterslides, while the Rocket waterside is not proposed for renewal.
The waterslides have experienced extended closures due to operational, condition, safety and asset-management considerations for several years.
City of Cockburn Director Community and Place Kylie Johnson said a range of investigations over several years had identified that several of the ARC’s aquatics, building and environmental systems were interconnected.
“The performance of water-treatment and ventilation systems affects humidity, chlorine management, corrosion, and performance of the fabric of the building,” Ms Johnson said.
“Many of the identified works are located within pools, plant rooms, filtration systems, balance tanks, wet decks and other operational areas that cannot be efficiently accessed during normal operations.
“A coordinated shutdown would provide access to this infrastructure which cannot be efficiently renewed during normal aquatic operations.”
City of Cockburn Mayor Logan Howlett said while the major renewal project would create disruption for customers, employees, partners and tenants, it was also an exciting opportunity to prepare ARC for its next decade of operation.
“This disruption will be temporary and importantly, ARC’s non-aquatic services, including the health club and stadium, will remain open during the renewal project.
“The project is part and parcel of maintaining and improving major community facilities, as has occurred at the neighbouring local governments of Fremantle and Melville where pool facilities have undergone closure to complete vital improvements in recent times,” Mayor Howlett said.
“Since ARC opened nine years ago annual visitations have increased from 875,000 to about 1.42 million, and membership and learn-to-swim enrolments are up by nearly 200 and 50 per cent respectively on target numbers.
“ARC has undergone expansion beyond its original configuration and experienced levels of use substantially above original planning assumptions.
“We owe it to ARC users and our ratepayers to ensure its facilities and plant remain efficient, safe, and industry leading. This will ensure many future years of intensive use ahead in what is a dynamic aquatic environment that will require regular maintenance across its lifetime.”
The phase one and two projects are included in the City’s Corporate Business Plan, Asset Management Plan and Long Term Financial Plan. Phase one comprises immediate, funded priority works that will occur this financial year and will not require closure of the aquatic service.