Council is calling for tenders to future-proof the Northern Beaches Leisure Centre with a multi-million-dollar revitalisation project.
The project will include the construction of a new eight-lane Olympic-sized swimming pool which will replace the existing pool.
Mayor Jenny Hill said the pool upgrade at the Northern Beaches Leisure Centre would ensure the facility remained a favourite within the community for decades to come.
"The existing pool will be removed and replaced with a concrete pool, which will have a longer lifespan than the existing steel pool, and while the construction is taking place we'll be taking the time to complete some revitalisation works around the Leisure Centre, such as replacing shade sails, repainting structures and replacing other items.
"Swimming is such a big part of life here in sunny North Queensland, which is why Council is committed to ensuring we can continue to make Townsville and the northern beaches such a great place to live through the revitalisation of the Northern Beaches Leisure Centre."
Infrastructure Services Committee chairperson Kurt Rehbein said Council was committed to providing the community with world-class infrastructure.
"Council's 2021/22 budget included $5 million for the reconstruction of the 50-metre pool, funded under the 2021-24 Queensland Government's Works for Queensland Program," Cr Rehbein said.
"Council is calling on businesses to tender for the project, which we're hoping will be completed between April and September next year.
"Once a tender is awarded, the works are expected to take about six months to complete, and while we have tried to schedule the works for the cooler months, we appreciate that the closure of the pool will cause some inconvenience. We thank pool users for their understanding while it is temporarily closed and works are underway."
Member for Thuringowa Aaron Harper said Townsville City Council had received $19.5 million in funding under the 2021-24 Works for Queensland Program, including $5 million for the pool reconstruction.
"This is another great project for our community that is being delivered through the partnership between the Queensland Government and Townsville City Council," Mr Harper said.
"This funding provides an economic stimulus to our local economy, and is important in helping our economy recover from COVID-19.
"The $19.5 million from the 2021-24 Works for Queensland Program is in addition to $83 million awarded to Council in three earlier rounds of W4Q and one round of COVID W4Q funding.
"The previous four rounds have so far supported 1,751 jobs, with the latest round forecast to support a further 137 jobs."
The tender process will close on Monday 7 February 2022 at 2pm.
The construction timeline for the project is expected to take six months, with Council working with the contractors and the pool's lessee to ensure the community will be able to access another swimming facility during this period.
To submit a tender, visit Tenders.
