Nanango Pool Costs ‘Shock’

May 18, 2021

South Burnett Regional Council will invite tenders for changing room upgrades at Nanango’s swimming pool after receiving quotes that exceeded expectations.

At last Wednesday’s standing committee meeting, Properties Manager Leanne Petersen told Councillors a recent round of maintenance works at the South Burnett Aquatic Centre was now almost finished.

These included replacing expansion joints; repainting two pools; installing a new solar heating system; and replacing rusted shade sail posts and door jambs.

However, quotes for upgrading the changing room facilities means that job will now need to be put out to tender.

Council had scheduled replacement of cracked and stained tiles; fixes for rusted or corroded seating and shower and hand basin fittings; and the installation of a new disabled toilet.

However, when quotes for this project exceeded $200,000 officers were forced to call a halt.

“This has come as quite a shock for us,” Ms Petersen told the meeting.

“When we went out for quotations for the bathrooms it came back over the $200,000 procurement mark.”

Ms Petersen said this meant Council would have to call a tender for the job, which would extend the project into the new financial year.

She said depending on the results of the tender, the project may now also require additional funding.

• Related article: Councillors Discuss Pool Upgrades

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The SBRC will bring in a consultant to help it plan a replacement for Kingaroy’s W.J. Lang Memorial Olympic Pool.

As well as providing advice about how to build a 50 metre pool complex, the consultant will also help the Council run an extensive round of public consultation meetings about the project.

The ageing pool – built in 1964 – is nearing the end of its life.

In last year’s Budget, Council forecast a replacement pool complex was likely to cost more than $10 million.

• Editorial: It’s Time For Tough Decisions

  Council, Kingaroy, Nanango