BALLARAT’S new 50- metre pool is nearing completion with the taps turned on for the first time on Friday.
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It is expected to take three days to fill the pool at the Ballarat Aquatic and Lifestyle Centre with about 2,000,000 litres of water.
Director of Nicholson Construction, the contractor behind the pool’s development, Richard Nicholson said the pool’s progress was on track to be complete by mid-April as planned.
“We’re really pleased with how it’s coming along,” he said.
“It’s taken just under 14 months and look what beholds.”
To ensure the pressure of Ballarat’s water supply remains steady while the pool is being filled, it will be filled by a hydrant at 10 litres per second.
“At this pace it will take three days to fill, which is faster than the last time we filled it when we did a pressure test last year,” Mr Nicholson said.
Once the pool has been filled, the contractor will begin the task of balancing the water temperature and chem-
ical composition before the pool will be ready for use.
“We need to heat the water and treat it to get it ready to swim in ... the chemistry behind water treatment takes a week,” he said.
“We’re at the finishing and commissioning stages ... it will be a month before handover.”
Deputy Mayor Cr Peter Innes said he was impressed with how the pool looked so far.
“This is the first time I’ve been in here and it looks absolutely brilliant,” he said.
“It’s certainly progressed a long way.
“It’s going to be a high asset for the city.”
Works on the remainder of the facility are also now in their final stages, with the finishing touches being applied to the change rooms, the warm-water pools area and the roofing.
Expansion works are also being carried out with demolition of the car park at the rear of the Ballarat Aquatic and Lifestyle Centre under way to make room for about 100 additional car parks to the Prince of Wales Park precinct.
Other works – including solar water heating, grandstand event seating and landscaping – are currently out to tender and will be completed in the coming months.
alicia.thomas@fairfaxmedia.com.au