The $57 million Gippsland Regional Aquatic Centre (GRAC) is the centrepiece of the Latrobe Valley Authority’s $85 million sports and infrastructure package.
This world-class centre has allowed Latrobe City to fulfil its long-held desire for a facility of this type for its constituents.
The GRAC was officially opened on 23 March, 2020 and is available for public use as of Thursday 25 March, 2020.
GRAC was formally christened by Minister for Regional Development Mary-Anne Thomas and Latrobe City Mayor Sharon Gibson, following a wave of activity at the Hubert Osborne Park site since 2017.
Premier Daniel Andrews began a funding flood by pledging $46 million for the project in 2017 as part of the now delivered $85 million Latrobe Valley Sports and Community Initiative, followed by contributions from Sport and Recreation Victoria and Latrobe City Council.
The GRAC was then fast-tracked and filled to the brim with first-rate features, from an eight-lane 50 metre indoor pool with 500 spectator seats to a regional first deep bore geothermal heating system to reduce carbon footprint and significantly decrease operational costs.
The YMCA managed centre also features: an indoor water play zone, two large water slides, learn to swim pool, café and retail precinct and 25 metre heated outdoor pool.
R and R are front and centre with a host of health and wellbeing facilities on deck including: warm water therapy pool, spa, sauna and steam rooms, wellness centre, wet and dry change facilities, and gymnasium with group fitness rooms.
Led by ADCO Constructions, the build provided an economic boost for a host of local contractors with more than 500 total workers engaged in over 10,000 hours of labour on site.
Businesses engaged included:
- Moncur Excavations
- Weldtek
- GBG Concrete
- Miller’s Plumbing
- CME Installations
- Law Somerville Industries
- Carpet Country
- Drilltec
- Laser Plumbing
- Fowler’s Asphalting
There were several other local suppliers and smaller contractors who are also involved in the project.
The completed Gippsland Regional Aquatic Centre includes:
- Competition pool: 8 Lane x 51.5 metre with moveable boom
- 500 spectator seats
- Large indoor water play zone
- Large warm water therapy pool with spa and hydro zone
- Learn to swim / leisure pool
- Sauna & steam rooms
- Gymnasium and three group fitness rooms
- 2 x large water slides
- Wellness Centre
- 25 m outdoor heated pool
- Geothermal heating
- Café & retail space
- Car parking, landscaping, public lighting & security
Council worked with key stakeholders including Swimming Victoria to refine the scope of the aquatics components along with a local nine-person Project Reference Group (PRG), taking inspiration and learnings from comparable centres across the state.
The Industry Capability Network and GROW Gippsland were engaged extensively in order to maximise local content on the project and assisted with the tendering process.
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Project timeline
Planning and design: 2018
Construction start: mid 2019
Completion: March 2021
Funding: $57 million