ADCO to build Batemans Bay Aquatic, Arts and Leisure Centre

Work will start next month on Batemans Bay’s new aquatic, arts and leisure centre after Eurobodalla Council awarded a $58 million contract for its construction to ADCO Constructions.

ADCO is a national company whose projects include the NSW Rugby League Centre of Excellence, Pimpama Sports Hub on the Gold Coast, the Hawthorn and Craigieburn leisure and aquatic centres in Victoria, and the Shellharbour City Hub. They will also build Waves Aquatic Centre in Sydney.

ADCO’s NSW state manager John Basilisco said the company had decades of experience working closely with communities, having completed more than 40 specialist sporting projects around Australia to date.

“ADCO is delighted to be entrusted to build this exciting new facility,” he said.

The centre, designed by NBRS Architecture, will replace the existing 50-metre outdoor pool at Mackay Park with an indoor multi-pool aquatic centre, complete with four water slides and internal and external water play, as well as meeting spaces, gymnasium and a 350-seat theatre, all joined by a gallery walk that will also house visitor information and a café.

Eurobodalla Mayor Liz Innes said it was an exciting time and she could not wait to see the first sod turned.

“Council is thrilled to have a company with the experience of ADCO Constructions on board.

“Not only will we soon have a wonderful new facility open all year-round, but its construction will also provide a big boost to our local economy at a time when we need it most,” she said.

“Following the impacts of the bushfires, projects like this give us hope - they show us we have confidence to invest in our future and the future of our children.”

The Council has set a total project budget of $69 million. This covers all costs including project management, design, environmental assessment and related studies, legal and professional services, fees and charges, furniture fittings and equipment, construction costs and a contingency of $6 million.

The construction contract is worth $58,082,810. The cost to Council, which excludes GST, is $52,802,554.

The project will be funded through $51 million in grants from the NSW and Australian governments. To fund the difference, Council is using $4 million of loan funds, along with s94 developer contributions and some cash reserves from infrastructure renewal, real estate disposal, and crown reserves funds, as well as some proceeds from the sale of Moruya Racecourse and Southern Phone. There are no land or asset sales proposed to fund construction of the facility.

Councillors voted to engage ADCO at the Council meeting on Tuesday 28 July. In the time since, staff have negotiated $747,500 in savings with the contractor before signing the contract today. Further potential savings continue to be investigated with ADCO.

Clr Innes praised the NSW and Australian governments for their financial support of the project.

“Thanks to these partnerships with local government, projects like this one are within the reach of smaller regional communities like ours,” she said.

The project will begin with demolition of the existing Batemans Bay pool, and the facility is expected to be complete early in 2022.