Solarspace's Danpalon Twin Wall Bronze features at the Inverell Aquatic Centre
Winners of this award were recently published in The Australian and praised by Senator Ian
McDonald - Member for Regional Services and Local Government, who described the awards as follows:
"Through the National Awards for Innovation in Local Government the Federal Government recognise those
Local Governments prepared to meet this challenge through innovative practices and ideas. The awards identify
and support leading practice in Local Government. They allow Councils to showcase the creativity,
resourcefulness and leadership going on in their organisations and communities."
The Inverell Memorial Pool was constructed and opened to the public in 1958, as a 50m open air pool. In the
early 1980’s discussions were held in the community about building an additional 25m indoor heated pool to
provide the people of Inverell and surrounding districts with an all year swimming facility. Inverell has
very cool winters which limits the normal swimming season. This proposal did not proceed because of the
capital costs involved in providing the new structure and also the increased maintenance, greater depreciation
and higher operating costs in maintaining two separate pools.
In 1997 a concept was developed by Council staff, which involved dividing the existing 50m Olympic pool
into two sections. The project involved the following components: The enclosure of half of the existing
Olympic pool, the installation of a heat-pump heating system, the installation of an air heating system,
the enclosure and modification of the pool entry area, the installation of a separating boom to create a
25m facility at the shallow end of the pool. The boom is fitted to the bottom of the pool by stainless steel
hinges and when not in use folds down onto the bottom of the pool. Sealing of the boom in its vertical
position to the wall and floor of the pool is provided by Hydrophilic seals.
The existing pool circulation system was such that with minor modifications the delivery to the deep end
could be closed off and heated water delivered only to the shallow end. During the winter months the water
is retained in the deep end but is not circulated or heated. It is believed that this project is the first of
its type in NSW, if not in the world, where an existing pool has effectively been split into two for the purpose
of heating a smaller volume of water utilising an existing water treatment and circulation system. Without the
innovative concepts incorporated in this project it is unlikely that Council would ever have proceeded with this
project. Inverell is a Rural Shire in Northern NSW with a population of 15,000 and is over 130km from the nearest
year round heated pool facility. Whilst the project is aimed at serving the whole community, groups such as learn
to swim groups, competitive swimmers, people needing low impact exercise, aboriginals and the aged should
benefit. It will also provide that facility other nearby towns such as Ashford, Bingara, Bundarra, Delungra,
Gilgai, Glen Innes, Tingha, and Warialda, The building has a curved laminated timber frame with a
barrel-vaulted section at the apex, which contains the ducts for the heating, improves the aesthetics of the
building and provides ventilation during the summer months. The building is enclosed with brickwork, polycarbonate
roller shutters and retractable clear perspex fabric curtain. The roofing to the pool and forecourt and the
gable ends is Danpalon 8mm bronze polycarbonate. A pool blanket system is provided and the entry forecourt
has been enclosed.
Advantages of the design are that it utilises and enhances an existing facility, avoids the duplication of
that facility and represents a substantial saving in terms of land, capital maintenance and operating costs,
the project cost was $650,000 comprising $620,000 cash outlay and some $30,000 in unpaid voluntary labour
provided by local workers. The project was only agreed to after consulting with the local community and
obtaining their full support. A local Heated Pool Fund Raising Committee was formed and raised $156,000.
The balance of the funding for the project was provided by the NSW Department of Sport and Recreation through
the Regional Sports Facility Program ($300,000) and Inverell Shire Council ($164,000). This project is a true
community project. The concept plans and detailed design drawings were all prepared internally by Council staff,
the construction was supervised by Council staff and undertaken by Council staff, local tradesmen and sub-contractors.
For further information contact:
SolarSpace
phone: 02 9475 2000
fax: 02 9475 2020
web: www.solarspace.com.au
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