CONTINUES TO MAKE A SPLASH

It wasn’t just the sheer scale of the facility and the pandemic that proved a challenge during the construction phase. GRAC is Victoria's first public aquatic centre using a deep-bore geothermal heating system. The pool is warmed by 65-degree heat from groundwater in an aquifer located below the ground, reducing carbon emissions by around 700 tonnes and saving $400,000 annually.

“That can be fairly challenging to install, there’s licensing and approvals that we need to make sure that we’re going through. But it uses that deep aquifer geothermal technology and the energy opportunity we have to heat the pool itself.

“It saves our community a significant amount of money because these facilities are not cheap to run, they are fairly resource intensive and it’s great that we have them in the community, but we’ve also got to be considerate of what the ongoing cost is to run them. So, there’s some real cost benefit and gas savings around having that geothermal opportunity there.”

As well as workforce and construction challenges, Latrobe City also had to navigate community engagement during the lengthy build. Not an easy task with lockdowns preventing many residents from being able to physically watch the construction unfold. It meant being creative with social media and direct marketing.

In the end, each challenge only proved to heighten the anticipation surrounding the facility, which has become a drawcard for local sporting events.

GRAC has been well-used by local swimming clubs and schools for carnivals, with Latrobe City Council keen to attract regional and state events in the future.

“It is a real drawcard, it’s a destination opportunity within that area and some people just go there to gather with others. For kids to hang out with their mates for families to get together and use a wonderful recreation space. Something that’s useful to them the kids really enjoy, but also isn’t something they have to travel a great distance to be able to get to.”

The centre is operated by the YMCA with 110 staff employed at GRAC, which included upskilling locals in lifeguarding and swim teaching through a partnership with Lifesaving Victoria.

A YMCA spokesperson said the opening of the Wellness Centre is a key focus, with six suites set to provide the community with allied health services.

The success of GRAC is seen as a boon for the entire state of Victoria, both due to the impressive construction phase and the subsequent community support it's attracted. "

“It’s probably paved the way for future projects at a state level and in other regional areas. Because now that we’ve seen it be delivered in terms of our construction but also what it looks like from an operational perspective.”

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