Cleveland Aquatic Centre Update

Council upgrades pools and play zone at Cleveland Aquatic Centre

Redland City Council is continuing its upgrade of Cleveland Aquatic Centre, with works starting next week on a refurbishment of the two smaller pools and the children’s play zone.

The 20-metre and 25-metre pools will be refurbished and the surrounding pool concourse will be resurfaced.

The children’s play pool surface and concourse will also be repaired.

The works will be staggered to ensure only one facility is closed at a time.

The expected pool closure dates for repairs, conditions permitting, are:

• 20-metre learn-to-swim pool – closed from 4 March to 1 April (learn-to-swim classes will be held in the 25-metre pool during this period), and
• 25-metre pool – closed from early April to mid-May.

The upgrades to the children’s play zone will occur during the normal winter closed season.

Council appreciates the community’s patience during the staged closures for these works.

A refurbishment of both the male and female change rooms and amenities at the aquatic centre was completed in November 2023.

Council is sourcing quotes for other infrastructure upgrades including repainting of the concrete paths and the replacement of sections of perimeter fencing.

Ends

Work has started on a staged $416,000 upgrade of the Cleveland Aquatic Centre.

Redland City Mayor Karen Williams said the initial works – the refurbishment of the male and female change rooms and amenities – were expected to be completed in about five weeks, weather permitting.

“Council is committed to retaining the Cleveland Aquatic Centre as a provider of aquatic facilities and programs for the Redlands Coast community,” Cr Williams said.

“This includes a continued investment of funding to keep the facility operational until such time as it needs to be replaced.

“Council has conducted annual condition assessments of the centre since 2020 and, following the most recent assessment, has developed a schedule of works to be completed over the next eight months.

“The timeline for these works may be a bit longer than anticipated due to the need to source specialist contractors.

“We also want to minimise the impact on the community so are scheduling major works outside the peak school holiday periods.”

Refurbishment of the male change rooms and amenities will start today and, once complete, refurbishment of the female change rooms is expected to start on 9 November 2023.

The upgrade will include repainting the change room walls, replacing flooring materials, and installing new toilets, partitions, handbasins and showers. These works are expected to be completed by the end of November.

Portable change rooms and toilets will be on site for use by patrons while the works are underway.

Division 2 Councillor Peter Mitchell said Council was also sourcing quotes for other infrastructure upgrades and routine maintenance works at the aquatic centre.

“The next stage of the refurbishment will include repainting of the building exteriors and concrete paths and the replacement of sections of perimeter fencing,” Cr Mitchell said.

“There will also be routine maintenance carried out on the pool pumps and filters and these works are scheduled to be completed before the school holidays start in December, weather permitting and pending contractor availability.”

The final stage of the budgeted aquatic centre refurbishment is proposed to start in April 2024, pending contractor availability.

This will include restoration of the 20-metre and 25-metre pool surfaces and surrounds, repairs to the outdoor river pool and children’s play pool.

Cr Williams said the latest condition assessment recommended a master plan be prepared for the replacement of the pools and site redevelopment over several stages within the next eight to 10 years.

“The master planning process is expected to start in 2028/29 to ensure the facility’s redevelopment continues to meet the needs of the community,” she said.

ENDS

Redland City Council is committed to ongoing maintenance at Cleveland Aquatic Centre.

This includes an allocation of $416,000 capital expenditure on renewal works in this year’s Budget based on a recent condition assessment.

A works program is currently being scheduled.

A refurbishment to the toilets, showers and entrance to the centre has been programmed to be underway before the end of the year.

Maintenance at the centre is a shared responsibility between Council and the centre operator.

The operator contributes $55,000 annually to maintain aspects of the facility as part of the operating contract.

Council has undertaken annual condition assessments at the centre since 2020 and has continued to invest funds to keep the facility operational until such time as it needs to be replaced.

This includes a major refurbishment and upgrade completed in 2020, which was supported by a State Government COVID Works for Queensland Funding contribution of $830,000.

The upgrade included new plumbing and electrical works, replacement of the indoor and 25-metre pool filter mediums, as well as refurbishment of the children’s play pool, centre kiosk and centre-wide painting, decking, tiling and landscaping.

Other improvements since 2020, excluding normal maintenance, include:

• The installation of additional shade structures, fencing, 50-metre pool heating repairs, and a new solar panel system in 2021.
• Maintenance to the adventure pool area in 2022, including surface renewal on the river rapids pool and a new chemical dosing system for the leisure pool.

Council is committed to working closely with the centre operator to ensure any maintenance issues are identified and addressed.

Council has no forward plans to close the Cleveland Aquatic Centre.

Please see below the revised holiday period operating hours for the Cleveland Aquatic Centre (CAC).

The children’s area Play Pool and newly refurbished River Rapid Pool are now re-opened.

Work completed on the River Rapid pool included pool subsurface removal, resurfacing, and repainting to enhance the life and aesthetic look of the pool area.

A new automatic pool dosing system has also been installed in the Play pool, further enhancing pool water quality and aesthetics.

Continuing landscape maintenance and the previous replacement of shade sails make this a delightful destination for children and the family this summer.

Repair works are underway within the adventure pool area at Cleveland Aquatic Centre.

This includes surface renewal on the river rapids pool and a new chemical dosing system for the leisure pool.

The adventure pool area remains closed while the works are undertaken, and Council is anticipating it will reopen at the end of October.

The Centre’s 25m and 50m outdoor heated pools and a 20m indoor heated pool are still open for use.

Summer trading hours will come into effect at Cleveland Aquatic Centre from Saturday 17 September 2022.

The new hours will be:

• Monday to Friday 5am-8pm

• Saturday 6am-5pm

• Sunday 9am-4pm

• Public holidays 10am-4pm

To ensure the safety of all patrons, the Centre’s adventure pool area will remain closed while work is undertaken on the river rapids pool.

Unfortunately, Council has experienced delays in sourcing a contractor and supplies to undertake necessary surface renewal work.

Council will keep the community updated on the work’s progress.

The Centre’s 25m and 50m outdoor heated pools and a 20m indoor heated pool are still open for use.

There have been reports of experience of a static sensation by some users of the Cleveland Aquatic Centre.

Multiple tests have been conducted and qualified contractors have assured Council the facility is safe for all patrons.

Further investigations involving experienced contractors are being conducted as a priority.

This type of experience has also been found at other pools outside of Redlands Coast.

The delayed weekend maintenance work on the 25-metre pool is now complete and the pool is now open.

The 25-metre pool remains closed after wet weather prevented the completion of planned maintenance on Saturday, 3 July.

The work has now been rescheduled. Future updates will be provided on completion (weather permitting).