Maleika Halpin
Patrons at Tweed Regional Aquatic Centre (TRAC) in Tweed Heads South will enjoy more comfortable conditions following a $400,000 upgrade officially launched on Thursday.
The improvements include a $300,000 overhaul of the swimming facility’s heating and ventilation system, to improve air quality in the indoor complex and to heat the two pools more efficiently.
Tweed mayor Cr Barry Longland, TRAC representatives and upgrade contractors joined pool patrons at the Heffron Street complex for the official launch.
Council’s Aquatic Facilities Supervisor, Glen Nott, said the upgrades would help bring significant savings to operating costs, while creating a more pleasant environment for everyone visiting the complex.
‘The new technology installed is considerably more energy efficient and it is estimated the new system will cut the facility’s heating and ventilation costs by 30-50 percent, which represents tens of thousands of dollars in savings each year.’
Improvements also included renovating the facility’s change room for people with disability, completing replacing its interior and fittings.
‘It now meets all standards for accessibility, making it more conducive for people with impaired mobility,’ Mr Nott said.
Learn-to-swim instructor Karen Walton said upgrades to the temperature and ventilation systems would allow consistent use of the pools throughout the year.
‘Because the temperatures fluctuate, a lot of people have stayed away from our classes up until now. Having the temperatures correct allows us to create consistency throughout the year,’ she said.
Work on the upgrade has been ongoing since early May and the contractor, QIS Solar Wise, is still fine-tuning the heating system.
‘Unfortunately, it was necessary to close the complex for a month during the upgrade and memberships have been extended to compensate for the closure,’ said QIS Solar Wise specialist Stewart Brawley.
Mayor Barry Longland said the latest works were part of an ongoing program to bring TRAC South Tweed up to optimum operating standards. There are also Tweed Regional Aquatic Centres located in Murwillumbah and Kingscliff.
‘This is a great complex, council has maintained the commitment to these facilities across the shire and we are committed to continuing that,’ he said.
