FAQs

The Wulanda Recreation and Convention Centre will be opened in stages commencing in December 2022 with opening of the revamped outdoor 50m pool , new indoor 25m pool, splash pad, program pool, and learn to swim pool as well as the western bank of timber courts, function and community rooms, the health club, and the café. 

In February, the eastern bank of courts will be finalised and opened to the community, providing further opportunities to host events, conventions, concerts and sporting competitions. Retractable seating in both banks of courts will progressively be installed in 2023, further supporting large scale events and activities providing seating for thousands of spectators.

There will be a range of swimming programs available at the Wulanda Recreation and Convention Centre including those in the indoor aquatics facilities which will be open all year.

 For further information and to register please visit www.wulanda.com.au.

The current proposed opening hours for the Wulanda Recreation and Convention Centre are as below:

Please note: Operating hours may change closer to official opening

For further information about the facility, programs, memberships etc. visit www.wulanda.com.au/

There will be a range of employment opportunities available at the Wulanda Recreation and Convention Centre. 

For further information and to register your interest please visit www.wulanda.com.au.

There is a range of spaces throughout the facility designed to cater for events such as meetings, medium to large scale expos, presentation nights, live performances and exhibitions to regional, state and national conferences. 

To learn more about the variety of spaces available and/or submit an enquiry visit www.wulanda.com.au.

This modern facility is designed to be a community hub with a multi-purpose design to complement existing facilities and become a focal point for Mount Gambier’s recreation, community activities and functions. 

Within the next 10 to 20 years several of our major sporting and recreation facilities will need either major refurbishment or a complete rebuild, in particular the Aquatic Centre and the Ice House. The community and Council have seized the opportunity to secure Federal and State grants to move this project forward.

Several of our sporting and recreation facilities will need either major refurbishment or a complete rebuild in coming years, in particular the Aquatic Centre and the Ice House. Council has worked with various sporting clubs and members of the community to during the design of the facility to ensure it will meet the needs of our community now and for many decades into the future. 

The community and Council have seized the opportunity to secure Federal and State grants to move this project. To meet the requirements for the federal funding the facility must be multipurpose and a space for the whole community, not just select sports. The inclusion of additional and multipurpose facilities helps to guarantee the viability of the facility by offsetting some of the operational costs through additional income. 

A 50 metre indoor pool would substantially add to the capital cost (several million dollars) and the operational costs of the facility including heating a much larger body of water and climate control for a larger internal space. 

The vast majority of recreational pools are 25 metres, both regional and suburban. The community will have access to the current 50 metre heated outdoor pool for six months each year during the main swimming season (October to April).

Find out more about this exciting project by:

• following the progress through the project updates
• watching the Community Videos
• reading through the FAQ's
• viewing the detailed design and photos
• asking us a question using the Q&A section

If you would like to receive regular updates as the project progresses subscribe to the newsletter.

The intermediate design is a concept that outlines the footprint of the build and does not include the detailed material selection, final layout and configurations. Independent cost estimates were provided for the intermediate design in accordance with industry standard pricing. 

The final design includes all detailed drawings and specifications that have been assessed as compliant with applicable building codes and has been approved through the State planning authority, which included another engagement process.

Based on the final design and independently assessed cost estimate Council made the decision to progress to tender to seek the market response.

Funding:

• $15 million from the Federal Government 
• $10 million from the State Government,
• $350,000 from District Council of Grant
• $41.49 million funded by City of Mount Gambier through borrowings at very low interest rates over a period of 20 years - $22.9 million will be spent locally on trades and supplies during the construction period.

Council remains in a very strong financial position with low borrowings and access to funding at interest rates that are the lowest they have been for many years. 

The project has attracted an unprecedented $25 million in Federal and State Government funding. 

Rates set at 4.5% as committed in Council's Long Term Financial Plan will cover interest payments and projected operating costs.

At the time of the community survey in 2018, the $39.1 million figure was based on an intermediate design and estimated costs provided by independent quantity surveyors. The market response to the tender process determined the true build cost of $57.3 million based on the final design which has been refined to increase flexibility and functionality following community/user group feedback.

The cost increase can be attributed to:

• The cost to implement connection for supply of utilities (water, sewerage, gas and electricity) which could not be fully costed until the final design stage
• Locality loading
• Increased risk profile due to COVID-19
• Inclusion of the 50 metre outdoor pool refurbishment and landscaping
• Increased investment in fully electric heating and cooling solutions supported by solar, a timber structure and hydronic flooring in the pool area to reduce whole of life costs
• Changes to meet fire and building safety compliance.

The community survey was undertaken to gauge community consensus for the project to secure the Federal Government funding. The result of the community survey determined that there was consensus within the community to progress with submission of a business case to the Federal Government to secure a $15m funding contribution. Confirmation of the Federal Government contribution was a requirement to secure the $10m funding contribution from the State Government. 

Based on the final design and independently assessed cost estimate Council made the decision to progress to tender to seek the market response. 

At the conclusion of the tender process and on presentation of the market price Council made an informed decision to progress to a signed contract based on:

•           meeting the principle objective of the project – to build an all year round, multi-purpose community and recreation facility providing activities for people of all ages and abilities,

•           the community consensus to progress the intermediate design to secure Federal and State funding contribution of $25m,

•           milestone and funding obligations of the signed agreements with the Federal Government ($15m) and the State Government ($10m),

•           Council’s strong financial position and ability to afford the build and operation of the facility while maintaining a commitment to not raising rates beyond 4.5%,

•           the ability to continue delivering current Council services,

•          Council's financial capacity to afford further large projects this year and in future years to continue to enhance quality of life,

•           the Social and economic benefit to current and future generations of the community of Mount Gambier and surrounding region,

•           an unprecedented economic boost for our community at time that it is needed most as we position our City and region for a strong recovery from COVID-19.

There was no resolution of Council preventing the project from progressing beyond $39.1 million, nor has there been a rescission motion relating to this. 

Following majority support in the community survey (72%) for the intermediate design and cost estimate, it was determined that any decision to proceed beyond a $39.1 million project would be a decision of Council. At the conclusion of the tender process and on presentation of the market price, Council made an informed decision to progress due to many factors, particularly the social and economic benefits and the affordability due to the Council’s strong financial position.

The building contract was signed on Monday 24 August 2020 and released the information to stakeholders and the community the same week. 

Council held confidential meetings about the project to uphold the integrity of the competitive procurement process and to secure best value for money. Therefore, cost estimates on the final design could not be publicly released during the live tender process which ran from August 2019 to August 2020. Most of the reports previously held in-confidence have now been released on Council's website.

This is a unique build that requires a builder with suitable experience with complex infrastructure. Badge Constructions are a South Australian owned tier 2 national builder with extensive experience in complex and large scale projects. 

Badge have had a local presence over a number of years on projects including UniSA, Mount Gambier Prison and Resthaven.

COVID-19 placed restrictions on many Australians’ movements and only highlighted the importance of investing in our own ageing facilities and infrastructure to strengthen our city as a regional centre now and into the future. 

The head contractor committed to achieving a minimum 40% (equating to $22.9 million) spend directly into our local economy and have a proven track record delivering against that KPI. 

This is an unprecedented level of economic boost to the community at a time when it was needed most.

There will not be another community survey. Ordinarily, the Council would have gone to the community with the final design and cost estimates, rather than the intermediate design. However, in order to secure the unprecedented level of Federal and State Government funding, the Council was required to gauge community consensus on the project with the most current information available at that time.