Existing Adelaide Aquatic Centre to close from August as construction continues on new $135m facility

Adelaide will be without a flagship aquatic centre for 18 months, with the old centre closing within months as construction kicks off on the new one.

The Adelaide Aquatic Centre will close on August 1 as major works continue on the new $135m centre next door, with more than 100 swimming groups relocated across the city.

Construction of the new $135m centre has started, as excavators remove more than 22,000 cubic metres of soil in preparation to build the base structure.

Heavy machinery and workers were busy on the site on Monday, starting to install more than 700 piles to support the building and aquatic structures after completion of the earthworks.

Infrastructure Minister Tom Koutsantonis said it had been a “very difficult task” to relocate the existing centre’s users to other facilities.

Work has started at the site of the new North Adelaide Aquatic Centre. Picture: Mark Brake

Tom Koutsantonis speaks to media with Labor MP Lucy Hood and John Hamer from Water Polo SA at the site. Picture: Mark Brake

“There’s a little community that’s grown up in and around the Adelaide Aquatic Centre and we’ve been working hard to make sure they’re looked after,” Mr Koutsantonis said. “There’s gym work, lap pool work, community sports.”

Mr Koutsantonis said the new centre would be ready by summer of 2025/26, with the existing centre closed from August 1 onwards to “minimise the impact of construction on the parklands”.

More than 100 sporting, community and health groups and the Learn to Swim program will be forced to use alternative venues across the Adelaide until the new centre opens.

The cost of the new centre rose by $55m in June 2023 but Mr Koutsantonis vowed that figure would not blow out as construction continued.

An artist impression of the new $135m Adelaide Aquatic Centre. Picture: SA Government

The ground floor plan of the centre. Picture: SA Government

A concept image for the new Adelaide Aquatic Centre. Picture: SA Government

Concept image of the indoor 50m pool. Picture: SA Government

“Importantly, we’re giving more land back to the parklands that’s being used by the (existing) Adelaide Aquatic Centre – we’re making more sporting grounds available as a result of building this centre,” he said.

More than 1000 sqm of land will be returned to parklands once the new centre is completed and the existing centre is demolished.

The earthworks and piling works represent the first major steps of the sustainably designed centre in North Adelaide’s Park 2, beside the existing aquatic centre.

Some of the excavated soil will be stored onsite for reuse to backfill the existing centre pools after the demolition works are completed later in the year.

The new centre – to be 100 per cent powered by renewable energy – will feature extensive indoor and outdoor pool areas, water slides, splash zones and lawned recreation facilities.

Gym and fitness facilities, a spa/sauna/steam room and improved community change rooms are included.

More than 1500 jobs will be supported over the life of the project.