Monbulk Aquatic Centre Storm Damage Repair Update

Monbulk Aquatic Centre

Storm Damage Repairs Update

 The storm events of early June and subsequent damage throughout the Yarra Ranges has been well documented.  The specific damage to the Monbulk Aquatic Centre is extensive and has subsequently taken significant time to work through all requirements in order to commence construction on site.  Delays have been compounded by COVID lockdowns and associated restrictions.

The Insurance builder Bay Building has been appointed, trees have been removed and where possible the damaged building was weather proofed and the site has been made safe and secure. A full engineering investigation report and a scope of works has been completed by FMG Engineering.

Due the extent of the repair work required, the new works are to comply with current building codes and standards which requires new documentation to be prepared for the building surveyors approval.

The Building Surveyor and Design team have all been appointed and are working through the project documentation phase. Once the design work and the determination process have been completed, and the building permit has been issued, the repair works can commence.

Whilst an exact commencement date for construction cannot be determined at this point, we have been advised that works will take up to 12 weeks to complete.  Once the commencement date is known the specific project timeline will be released and will guide us through the respective repair phases.

25m Pool retiling

Prior to the storms and following the very successful re-tiling of the MAC program and toddler pools in March of this year, plans and a budget allocation were made to re-tile the 25m pool in late December and early January.  Since the pool shutdown there has been further broken and popped tiles, so we are now able to bring these works forward to complete the 25m pool re-tiling in line with the storm damage repairs. The appointed builder and insurer have been very accommodating with this request to minimise disruptions as much as possible.   

Over the coming 3 weeks the pool will be drained and the old tiles removed and the concrete shell prepared.  Then once the repairs to the pool hall roof are completed, the contractor will return to lay the new tiles whilst the rest of the storm damage repairs are completed.  The end result will be a fantastic looking 25m pool and importantly without the ongoing issue of tiles cracking/popping off and causing inconvenience to the pool’s users.

As we come out of the COVID lockdown we acknowledge the inconvenience as well as the frustration that the local community has in regards to the down time of the MAC pools and strongly urge the use of the Belgrave heated outdoor pool, Kilsyth Centenary heated indoor & outdoor pools and the Yarra Centre in the meantime.

A further update will be provided once we have a confirmed start date for construction.