Turning an ageing, but much loved swimming pool into a state of the art recreation facility accessible for the entire community isn’t an easy job. But thanks to thorough consultation and sound planning, the City of Whittlesea has achieved just that at the Thomastown Recreation and Aquatic Centre (TRAC).
The redevelopment began in late 2008. It has cost $22 million to build and was partially funded by Victorian Government grants, with Sport and Recreation Victoria contributing $2.5 million and the Department of Planning and Community Development providing $375,000.
When TRAC reopens later this year, its five new swimming pools, including a hydrotherapy pool for health, rehabilitation and specialist exercise, will all have either beach or ramp entry. It will also feature gymnasiums, sauna and steam rooms, an accessible outdoor recreation area, a wellness centre and Bubup Wilam, which is a kindergarten for Aboriginal children.
Developed as part of a hub, TRAC will also have undercover access to the nearby Thomastown Library and Thomastown Secondary College.
Whittlesea’s Director Community Services Russell Hopkins said the new facility was designed for use by as diverse a range of community members as possible.
To achieve this, Council staff met with Whittlesea’s Disability Network at the very beginning. The network has more than 100 members, including local people with disabilities, carers and organisations that provide disability services.
“The input of the Whittlesea Disability Network throughout the redevelopment has been vital,” said Russell Hopkins. “It has given Council staff a practical insight into the needs of local people with disabilities and how those needs can be best served at the new TRAC.”
Russell said the facility will offer some accessibility features rarely seen in Australia, including change rooms for people with disabilities that have overhead hoists and automatic beds that can move up and down.
“One has a hoist that moves directly from the change room into the hydrotherapy pool,” he said. “It will be one of very few operating in this country.”
The health club will have fitness equipment for people of all abilities. The main gym will be 445 square metres in size and feature state of the art equipment for teens through to seniors, including sport specific and rehabilitation apparatus.
A second, smaller gymnasium will cater for specialist gym programs.
One of the pools will have automatic shutters, which can separate it from the rest of the centre. It is expected to be popular among many different groups, including playgroups, people of all abilities and for birthday parties and other functions.
Other features will include:
- An indoor cycling gym
- a group exercise room that can be hired by
sporting and other groups - a multipurpose room for sports such as
basketball and badminton - a cafe
- a crèche
- one of the only public spas in Victoria with
ramp access.
TRAC will also have several environmentally sustainable features. Power generated by TRAC’s plant operations will be recovered and reused for reduced power requirements through a cogeneration plant, rainwater will be used to flush toilets and water landscaped areas, and double glazed windows have also been installed to reduce energy use.
The TRAC redevelopment is a significant regeneration program in an established area.
Russell Hopkins said that the planning and layout has been improved for all.
“The new TRAC will give local residents a health and leisure facility they can use now and well into the future, no matter how their circumstances may change,” he said.
