Plans for $24m Payneham Memorial Swimming Centre upgrade released

They’ve been waiting years, but residents of this inner-east haven are set to reap the benefits of a $24m upgraded swimming centre. See the plans here.

Six years after it was first rumoured, an ageing swimming centre in Adelaide’s inner-east is set for a major upgrade.

The Payneham Memorial Swimming Centre will receive a $24m revamp due to be completed during the 2023-24 swim season.

Norwood, Payneham and St Peters council mayor Robert Bria on Friday unveiled the plans for the swimming centre, which will be equipped with two new pools, high platform water slides and water play sections.

“This investment will make a huge difference to people who use the centre making it even more popular given the exciting new features, including the high platform water slides,” he said.

With $16.5m of the investment coming from the council and the remaining $5.6m from the state government, the pool is the biggest investment the council has made on one project.

Artist visualisations of the $24m upgrade to the Payneham Memorial Swimming Centre. Pictures: DWP Australia Pty Ltd

Artist visualisations of the $24m upgrade to the Payneham Memorial Swimming Centre. Pictures: DWP Australia Pty Ltd

Mr Bria said he wanted the upgrade to set it apart from other pools in the area.

“We believe it’s going to have a significant point of difference, especially with new Adelaide Aquatic Centre being some time off and we believe we can attract a whole new market we didn’t have before,” he said.

“The eastern region has a number of pools and we know there’s competition in terms of the pool market, so we decided our investment (needed to provide) value for money so the council gets a good return in terms of patronage and usage.”

The swimming centre was established in 1968. In 2016, the council voted to consult the community on a plan to upgrade the pool.

Payneham pool as it currently looks. Credit: Southern Drones

At the time, plans involved maintaining an eight-lane pool at the centre and expanding to include a water park.

Those plans were expected to set the council back $6m, then by June 2017 the cost had trickled out to $8.5m.

They followed a revamp of the Burnside Swimming Centre at the end of 2015, which saw visitors flock to their shiny new pool.

The now-$24m price tag builds on what was first proposed, including disability access ramps and facilities for “all patrons” of the pool.

The designs were done by internationally renowned group DWP, which specialises in pools.

The Payneham upgrade will preclude any upgrades to the council’s pool at Norwood.