Boost to employment in the Town of Kwinana, Western Australia

The Recquatic Centre in Kwinana, Western Australia, is feeling the positive flow-on effects of the Australian Government’s Nation Building – Economic Stimulus Plan.

The Centre received funding of $162,000 under the Government’s $250 million Community Infrastructure Program (CIP) to upgrade this community facility which attracts over 200,000 visits per year from local and surrounding areas.

The funding has enabled:

• the installation of solar hot water booster tanks;
• the provision of new pool blankets for the ten lane, 25 metre pool;
• the installation of evaporative air-conditioning in the sports stadium;
• and repairs to the main pool hall air handling system.

The project included the installation of evaporative air-conditioning for an indoor sports stadium used throughout the year for activities including team sports, community events, junior programs and summer vacation care programs.

Centre Manager, Roger Knight, explained how the Government’s investment has helped sustain local jobs.

“We succeeded in our aim to engage a local contracting company to install the air conditioning to maximise the economic benefits to the local community”, Mr Knight said.

In keeping with its sustainability plan, Centre management determined that the installation of solar panels and booster tanks was the most sustainable approach to providing hot water to change room facilities.

“For the last five years the Centre’s change rooms had only been able to supply cold water due to old, broken water storage units and lack of funds.

“The new amenities, made possible by the CIP grant, have made a significant improvement to our patrons’ experience, including the many community sporting teams who use the stadium daily,” Mr Knight said.

CIP funding also enabled overdue repairs to the pool hall air handling system which is now back on line and functioning at full capacity and with significantly improved efficiency.

“All patrons now benefit from superior pool hall air quality, while the Centre benefits from a reduction in our heating and energy costs.

“Together with the new pool blankets, the Centre maintains a better standard of water temperature and thereby reducing evaporation which links in with our sustainability plan and reduces our carbon footprint.

“The project has and will continue to deliver valuable economic, environmental and social benefits to the local community,” Mr Knight said.

“We’re excited about increased patronage prospects for the Centre but, importantly, it’s local people who are the clear beneficiaries of this infrastructure project,” he said.

“Particularly those who were previously unable to access the pool due to breathing difficulties resulting from air temperature and quality – these people can now access the facility and incorporate swimming into their lifestyle.”

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