Hard hats, high vis and work boots were the order of the day when the Central Highland’s Mayor Kerry Hayes, Deputy Mayor Gail Godwin-Smith, Councillor Charlie Brimblecombe and CEO Scott Mason toured the site of the new Blackwater Aquatic Centre recently.
Since Hutchinson Builders commenced work in March on the Hunter Street site it has been transformed by heavy machinery.
The contractors have worked steadily to excavate and commence construction on the 50 metre pool, the 25 metre pool, the splash pad and the related infrastructure and carpark. The walls are going up and the amenities buildings are taking shape.
Concrete suppliers and steel fixers have been busy with the concrete pour for the base of the 50 metre pool. Within days the last of the foundations for the entry and meeting room building will be complete.
Mayor Hayes commented that the work on the site is ‘really impressive’ as he viewed the progress with Nick Colthup, project manager, and Len Ward, site manager, for Hutchinson Builders.
To mark the commencement of the project the official sod-turning was held on the 11 March 2016. The event was attended by many members of the Blackwater community together with the financial contributors that have made the project possible. The Hon. Ken O’Dowd MP representing the Australian Government, the mayor and councillors from Central Highlands Regional Council and top executives from BMA were in attendance to see how their contributions will be used on the
$15 million project.
‘We are very fortunate to have this standard of facility being built in our local area. It is going to be a big drawcard for locals and visitors to Blackwater,’ said Deputy Mayor Godwin-Smith.
Councillor Brimblecombe, who has keenly watched the progress over the past few years as the project went through the detailed design stage said, ‘The whole facility has been well thought through and it’s great to see it happening.’
Progress over the next few months will include the construction of the pools and the large shade structure to go over the 25 metre pool and part of the 50 metre pool. The new aquatic centre is anticipated to be completed mid-January 2017.