Council will use the $2 million in Victorian Government funding – announced in 2020 – to upgrade the octagonal pool at the heritage-listed Maryborough Outdoor Pool complex.
In developing the tender – which is being advertised from today, Friday 10 February 2023 - Council has worked closely with Heritage Victoria to ensure the significance of the complex is maintained - with the Heritage Victoria permit already in place and ready for works to start.
As part of this Council worked closely with heritage conservators to research the best method to recover and preserve the existing tiles of the octagonal pool which involved researchers at Melbourne University to undertake specialised experiments with sections of the tiles
The project scope includes an entirely new pool shell, recovery and re-application of as many of the original tiles as possible and repairs to the concourse.
The advertising of the tender follows Council, in July last year, endorsing a report on the future of the heritage-listed Maryborough 50 metre pool.
Following further assessment of the 50-metre pool – it was identified that the condition of the pool had declined since the previous assessment in April 2021 with the pool having reached the 'end of life' stage meaning it is not safe to be re-opened until the pool is demolished and rebuilt.
Using the $2 million in Victorian Government funding announced in 2020 on the 50 metre pool would have been a short-term patch job and would not have addressed the increasingly declining integrity of the pool shell.
This funding will now be invested in not only upgrading the octagonal pool –but will also involve minor upgrades to the plant room and the main entrance building – which is expected to be advertised as a separate tender in the coming months.
Central Goldfields Shire Maryborough Ward Councillor Geoff Lovett said Council was committed to doing everything it can to see the Maryborough Outdoor Pool rebuilt and re-opened for the community to enjoy.
"It was a considered and difficult decision for Council to make last year to have to close the Outdoor Pool.
"We know the closure caused inconvenience and disappointment to our community who haven't been able to enjoy the facility since the decision was made.
"Rest assured that behind the scenes we continue to advocate tirelessly to State and Federal governments for the $6 million we need to rebuild this heritage listed, recreation and sporting icon so as to ensure it can be enjoyed by future generations.
"In the meantime, it's wonderful we can now go out to tender to deliver upgrades to the octagonal pool and minor upgrades to the plant room and the main entrance building.
"This all contributes to us being another step closer to seeing this much-loved community asset re-developed for future generations to enjoy."
Businesses looking to view the tender documents can do so by visiting: www.centralgoldfields.vic.gov.au/tenders
