Learn to swim youngsters, lap swimmers and fitness fanatics have jumped straight back into their recreation and leisure routines following the reopening of the aquatics areas at East Gippsland Shire Council’s Bairnsdale Aquatic and Recreation Centre (BARC).

The BARC aquatics area was closed from September 21 until October 15 (rest of facility opened a week earlier) as part of planned works for the $6.55 million development.

An anticipated six week closure was reduced to just three weeks through the work of council, principal contractor, Brooker Builders, and its subcontractors.

Mayor, Cr Joe Rettino, who toured the works site with fellow councillors on Tuesday, said to limit the outage to only three weeks was a great result for the community.

“To complete the ducting, electrical and painting work, the 25-metre pool had to be emptied. The water in the pool was gradually cooled in the week before the closure and drained into the nearby wetland, with Environment Protection Agency approval, so there was also some environmental benefit during the dry conditions,” Cr Rettino said.

During the closure, the power supply to the entire building, including the Forge Theatre, was upgraded and new electrical switchboards installed and commissioned, ducting replaced above the 25m pool, the fresh paint colour scheme carried throughout the aquatic area, and LED lighting upgrades in some sections of the building.

In addition to redevelopment works, some minor maintenance throughout the centre was completed and replacement gym equipment installed.

The redeveloped facility will include a warm water pool, interactive children’s water play area, an expanded aquatic area and upgraded change facilities including family/all ability change rooms, and expanded reception and café areas.

Attractions in the children’s play area include a ‘Mega Soaker’ (a bucket that holds 160 litres of water and tips every few minutes), smaller buckets, shower head features, underwater bubblers and water cannons.

PICTURED: Council’s Fiona Weigall (acting director operations), Paul Holton (director development) and Sam McPherson (centre coordinator), with councillors Marianne Pelz, John White and Joe Rettino (mayor), and local contractors Michelle and Ross Brooker (Brooker Builders), inspect the new warm water pool and children’s play area being constructed as part of the Bairnsdale Aquatic and Recreation Centre redevelopment.