Wulanda Recreation and Convention Centre

The Mount Gambier community is set to make a splash at Wulanda Recreation and Convention Centre at a much-anticipated preview weekend, beginning on 16 December 2022.

In a much-anticipated announcement, City of Mount Gambier CEO Sarah Philpott said that the community can book a free swimming session and a tour of the state-of-the-art Wulanda Recreation and Convention Centre on the preview weekend, 16-18 December 2022.

Bookings for the preview weekend are available online: Wulanda Preview - Come and Join Us - Wulanda Recreation and Convention Centre at wulanda.com.au

"Given the level of community interest and excitement about Wulanda, we expect some sessions to book out quickly, so don’t wait to book your spot." City of Mount Gambier CEO Sarah Philpott.

“Sport and recreation are crucial for the health and wellbeing of our community, and Wulanda is certain to be an extremely popular and rewarding place to connect with friends and family, be active and enjoy the extensive community facilities it provides.”

Operating partner of Wulanda, Belgravia Leisure, has put together an exciting preview weekend, with free two-hour pool sessions showcasing the revamped outdoor 50m pool and new indoor 25m pool, splash pad, program pool, and learn to swim pool. At the same time, the community can look at the eastern bank of timber courts, function and community rooms, and the health centre and grab a coffee in the café.

Jason Taylor, Wulanda Recreation and Convention Centre Manager, said that Belgravia is committed to supporting the local economy.

"This means hiring local staff, engaging local suppliers, and keeping our region healthy through investing in resources from the area."

The community are invited to book a one-hour tour of Wulanda, which will provide an in-depth showcase of what Wulanda offers to the community regarding community spaces, conventions, entertainment, sports, swimming, and leisure.

City of Mount Gambier Mayor Lynette Martin OAM said that the community has eagerly awaited Wulanda’s completion, and the preview weekend is an incredible opportunity to see the facility up close.

“Wulanda responds to the community’s desire for quality aquatics and flexible sporting and event spaces. It will stand the test of time in reinforcing the City of Mount Gambier and this region as a unique and preferred destination to enjoy for the future,” Mayor Martin said.

The Wulanda Recreation and Convention Centre project is made possible with the support of the Federal Government Regional Growth Fund and the State Government Regional Growth Fund. City of Mount Gambier received funding partner support of $350,000 from the District Council of Grant.

Wulanda Recreation and Convention Centre will open to the community in December 2022.

At a media conference held on Monday 5 September 2022, City of Mount Gambier CEO Sarah Philpott announced the anticipated opening dates and final costs for the Wulanda Recreation and Convention Centre.

In December, the doors will open to the revamped outdoor 50m pool and new indoor 25m pool, splash pad, program pool, and learn to swim pool. At the same time, the community can use the western bank of timber courts, function and community rooms, the health centre, and the café.

In February, the Eastern bank of courts will be finished and opened to the community which will provide opportunities to host events, conventions, concerts and sporting competitions. Retractable seating in both banks of courts will progressively be installed next year, opening up seating for thousands of spectators.

Council have partnered with Belgravia Leisure to ensure that there is an operator who has the experience to encourage local use, improving our community’s wellbeing as well as being connected nationally to attract events and activities that will support our City’s continuing economic growth.

Council is now in a position to advise the community of the final costs for the project. The budget throughout the course of the build for Wulanda is $66.8m, including project management, cost estimators, quantity surveyors, planning and statutory charges, contingency and construction.

This budget includes the construction cost for the project. The original construction budget of $61.6m comprised a contract price of $57.3m and a contingency allocation of $4.3m or 7.5%. All construction projects, large or small, allow a contingency for matters that are unanticipated at the time of commencing a project, which might relate to design, scope of the project or material availability.

Council can advise now that the final construction cost for Wulanda is anticipated to be $62.5m, noting that Council has an additional contingency for any final and unanticipated items. Allowing the remaining contingency to be taken up, the overall construction will have increased the original budget by 2.13%.

Council’s solid financial position, and funding partner support of $15m Federal funding, $10m State funding and $350,000 from District Council of Grant, have ensured that the project can be funded and delivered.

Throughout the build, Wulanda has benefitted local trades and contractors by more than $22 million. This does not account for the corresponding investment in hospitality and accommodation venues by visiting businesses and services. Around 60% of the project has been spent either locally in our region or in South Australia.

Wulanda is a community space that will serve Mount Gambier for multiple generations.

It responds to the community’s desire for quality aquatics, flexible sporting and event spaces. It will stand the test of time in reinforcing the City of Mount Gambier and this region as a unique and preferred destination to enjoy for the future.

The Wulanda Recreation and Convention Centre moves a step closer with the City of Mount Gambier announcing Belgravia Leisure as the operating partner of the state-of-the-art facility.

Mayor of Mount Gambier Lynette Martin OAM said that signing the contract for an operating partner is an important next step for the Wulanda Recreation and Convention Centre.

“We are very excited to have reached this significant milestone and look forward to working in partnership with Belgravia Leisure to activate and manage this game-changing facility for our community to enjoy, and to provide ongoing economic benefit to the city,” Mayor Martin said.

General Manager City and Community Growth Tim Coote said that working with Belgravia Leisure will attract a range of events to Mount Gambier and deliver the best value and quality services to the community.

With more than 30 years of experience in the leisure and recreation industry, Belgravia Leisure currently manages 220 sport, leisure and tourism sites across Australia and New Zealand.

Belgravia Leisure CEO Nick Cox said Belgravia Leisure was honoured to be appointed manager and operator of the Wulanda Recreation and Convention Centre.

"Belgravia Leisure is proud to partner with the City of Mount Gambier to manage the Wulanda Recreation and Convention Centre in Mount Gambier. This multi-purpose facility is designed to be a community space, with facilities and activities welcoming all ages and abilities, including children, families, youth, community groups, recreational and organised sports, and those with special needs.”

"This development will provide substantial year-round indoor facilities, addressing many community needs. We are looking forward to working with Council in connecting the community to leisure," Mr Cox said.

Belgravia Leisure will commence staff recruitment in the coming months with a range of roles on offer to locals and suitably experienced individuals.

Catherine Foreman Belgravia Leisure SA State Manager said that the company is committed to supporting the local economy. “This means hiring local staff, engaging local suppliers, and keeping regional economies healthy through investing in resources from the area,” Ms Foreman said.

The partnership enables Council to work together with Belgravia Leisure to maximise the use and community benefit of the facility by tapping into their established connections and networks. Belgravia Leisure also has a proven record of attracting state and national sporting and recreation events, conferences, and conventions and in partnering with government to manage community facilities of all shapes and sizes.

“For membership enquiries or if you are looking for a fulfilling career in leisure with opportunities to grow and make a meaningful impact in your community, please visit www.wulanda.com.au,” Ms Foreman said.

Further information about user fees and membership opportunities will be available soon, and interested community members are encouraged to register to receive updates at www.wulanda.com.au

Media contact: City of Mount Gambier Media and Communications Coordinator Jamie McDonald on 08 8721 2401 or jmcdonald@mountgambier.sa.gov.au

The Wulanda Recreation and Convention Centre at Olympic Park on Margaret Street continues to take shape both internally and externally despite current challenges facing the construction industry.

Recent progress on site includes installation of pool plant room and mechanical equipment and first fix lighting throughout the pool hall, while the build and installation of the splash pad area equipment is also progressing.

“Construction is progressing well, and the site is a flurry of activity each day both internally and externally,” City of Mount Gambier City Infrastructure and project sponsor Barbara Cernovskis said.

“It’s really exciting to see the concept drawings literally coming to life, and the quality of the finishes is really coming to the fore now.”

The café is beginning to take shape with installation of wall framing and sheeting throughout with electrical works underway.

Fitting of acoustic treatment is almost complete in the entertainment hall and sports courts area, along with the AV equipment installation, lighting and bench seating.

"It is really impressive to see the building all lit up at dawn and dusk and you start to get a real appreciation for what the facility is going to offer the community"

“The use of timber throughout the courts, aquatic and other areas of the building gives it a real sense of warmth when inside, and along with the limestone features outside the building, really showcases the materials that our region is renowned for.”

Flooring in the bar areas and upstairs kitchen and the kitchen warm shell is nearing completion, along with balustrade glazing for the spectator seating in the courts area. Painting of walls and ceilings, and tiling in all amenities is well progressed, bringing the facility to life.

Read full article.

The Wulanda Recreation and Convention Centre project continues to progress at Olympic Park in Mount Gambier despite ongoing delays caused by COVID-19 restrictions.

Head contractor BADGE Constructions is managing 100 to 110 people from various trades and services working on site each day to progress the major build.

“We have many local businesses on site including VIVID Glass, Gambier Earthmovers, Studform, Bill Legget Fencing, Cameron Lock Surveyors, Adams Scaffolding, DMK Engineering, Correct Safety, Metalworx, Wilson Security, Heemskerk Security, Conroy landscaping, Williams Cranes, Baxter Hire, I&D Traffic Control and Quickmix,” City of Mount Gambier Project Sponsor Barbara Cernovskis said.

“It’s great that we can involve our local skilled services in this transformational project which will provide the facilities to really change the way we live and interact with each other recreationally in the city when it opens later this year.”

The external 50 metre pool structure is being rebuilt and the internal pools including the 25 metre pool, program pool, learn to swim pool and the splash pad are currently under construction within the centre.

“The 50 metre pool is now a rebuilt shell and BADGE is currently concreting the ramps and steps. The existing pool base is being cleaned and ready for wet deck installation and tiling. Myrtha will then complete the wall panels and liners.”

Myrtha pools being installed inside the pool hall at the Wulanda Recreation and Convention Centre

“Inside the pool hall, the pool frames and shells are now built and the process of concreting the seating, ramps and steps has begun. Once this is complete, wet decks will be installed and tiling will commence, then Myrtha will complete the liners.”

The building continues to take shape in the other internal spaces with wall framing works, wall and ceiling sheeting, painting, wall and floor tiling, aluminium windows and doors and joinery installation.

Read full article.

Construction on Council’s largest ever infrastructure project the Wulanda Recreation and Convention Centre at Olympic Park Mount Gambier is progressing despite delays due to COVID-19 restrictions.

“If you drive past the development regularly or keep an eye on the monthly time lapse videos released by Council you would have seen a lot of activity on site during the past couple of months,” Project Sponsor Barbara Cernovskis said.

Head contractor BADGE Constructions is currently installing the roof on the facility.

"Now that the roof is being installed, we can really see the inside of the building starting to take shape. Crews are working on ceiling framing and closing the walls and partitions between the community spaces, amenities and office area."

There are currently about 80 people working on site each day and the total workforce is expected to reach about 120 in the coming months.

“The blockwork for the courts, amenity facilities and aquatics area has commenced, ongoing internal electrical, mechanical and plumbing services works continues as does structural steel works in the court area and western storage area.”

“1300 solar panels will also be installed in the coming weeks.”

The program of works is being amended and prioritised to address any delays and challenges due to the changing environment of COVID-19.

“It is challenging building in a COVID-19 environment, particularly due to periodic lockdowns hindering the procurement of goods and contractors from Victoria.”

“Border restrictions have made it difficult to secure the required trades on site and it has been a challenge to find specialist trades to undertake some of the jobs required,” Ms Cernovskis said.

The Wulanda Recreation and Convention Centre will be life changing for our community and it will be worth the wait.

BADGE Constructions, Williams Crane Hire and specialist timber beam erectors have made the most of the fine weather conditions on site at the Wulanda Recreation and Convention Centre at Olympic Park in recent days erecting 8 of the 13 HESS Timber rafters over the pool hall area. The largest of all, spanning 42 metres and weighing about 7 tonnes is being fitted over the pool hall in the video.

As a first step, a 160 tonne crane lifts the beams out of the storage area in the 50 metre pool to enable the plastic covering to be removed. The crane then lifts the rafter into place. The beams are placed in a temporary ‘birds mouth’ wooden construction on top of the columns to ensure the timber settles in place, before the 110 tonne crane is used to enable erectors to screw and bolt each end securely.

Plywood flooring is placed on top of the rafters to provide structural support to enable installers to walk on the surface when applying the roofing. SA Construct commercial roofing and cladding is on site using a mobile mill machine to roll the iron roofing sheets that measure 56 metres long. A team of 13 will wait in a line to receive 80 or so sheets today and combine them into packs of six ready for installation. The roofing will be rolled out in a staged approach. The four layer system will include placing foil, spaces and insulation down, and then another foil layer and iron sheeting to complete the roof. More than 400 iron roof sheets will be installed over the entire building.

The longest single glulam timber beams ever shipped to Australia - spanning up to 42 metres, have been loaded on to two trucks to make the journey from the wharf in Port Melbourne to the Wulanda Recreation and Convention Centre construction site on Margaret Street in Mount Gambier South Australia today Tuesday 22 June 2021 and Thursday 24 June 2021.

The timber beams at Zeebrugee Port, Belgium. Image courtesy HESS TIMBER

13 full length glued laminated timber beams measuring 42 metres and two segmented beams were produced by German timber engineering project specialist HESS TIMBER for the pool hall within the $57.3 million Wulanda development.

The timber rafters were crafted at HESS TIMBER’s production facility in Kleinheubach, Germany. The beams departed from Zeebrugee Terminal in Belgium at the end of April and travelled approximately 25,000 kilometres via ocean to Australia as break-bulk-cargo, arriving at the wharf in Port Melbourne on Saturday 12 June 2021.

A specialist South Australian freight contractor used two mobile hydraulic cranes to unload the beams from the ocean freight platforms, called multi-purpose boogies (MPB), and on to each truck which will carry three to four timber beams to their destination in Mount Gambier over four loads.

The long and oversized loads will measure 2.5 metres wide and 49 metres in length. Three certified pilots will be required to escort the loads through Victoria to South Australia.

The trucks will travel under police escort and will follow a pre-approved traffic management plan.

The timber beams arrived at the wharf in Port Melbourne on Saturday 12 June 2021. Image courtesy of Sandstruct.

The travel route from Port Melbourne to Olympic Park in Mount Gambier:

• Kooringa Way, Port Melbourne,
• Webb Dock Road,
• West Gate Freeway,
• Princes Freeway,
• Hamilton Highway,
• Lismore – Skipton Road,
• Glenelg Highway,
• Dunkeld – Cavendish Road,
• Henty Highway,
• Glenelg Highway,
• Worrolong Road,
• Riddoch Hwy
• Bay Road,
• Margaret Street, Mount Gambier.

Learn more about the timber used for the Wulanda Recreation and Convention Centre with DesignInc Architect Ben Luppino and HESS TIMBER’s Tyson Infanti on the Timber Talks podcast.

The Wulanda Recreation and Convention Centre Stage 3 Community Reference Group (CRG) met for the first time last week.

The Stage 3 CRG will work with Council to provide input into the operational model and the activation of the major community centre currently under construction at Olympic Park on Margaret Street, Mount Gambier.

Council sought broad representation from the community with 20 CRG representatives selected from: education, allied health, early childhood, retirement and aged care, first nations, disability, community services, sporting/recreation clubs, swimming, basketball, netball and music/performing arts/events industry sectors.

“The CRG provides the opportunity for community members to contribute to the future operational model for this facility,” City of Mount Gambier Acting CEO Barbara Cernovskis said.

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Council has endorsed a new brand for the Wulanda Recreation and Convention Centre, as development continues on the major community facility on site at Olympic Park on Margaret Street.

The Wulanda Recreation and Convention Centre was officially named in December 2020 following extensive community consultation for name suggestions and a public vote.

“Council really wanted to honour the cultural significance of the name Wulanda meaning ‘to cherish or enjoy’ and respectfully acknowledge the spiritual connection of our Boandik Peoples to the land and water that Mount Gambier sits upon today,” Wulanda Recreation and Convention Centre Committee Presiding Member Councillor Ben Hood said.

Council commissioned local First Nations artist Belinda Bonney to create artwork to be incorporated within the centre’s brand identity. Adelaide Design Agency KWP worked with Ms Bonney to ensure design elements were incorporated respectfully within the logo and brand through culturally appropriate digital design elements.

“I’m really proud to be part of this process and to have my artwork, the symbol for waterways, included in the branding for the Wulanda Recreation and Convention Centre,” First Nations artist Belinda Bonney said.

“If we keep our waterways strong and flourishing for the next generation, we’ll be able to continue to meet, connect and enjoy being on Country, which is everything the centre will offer us when it is finished.”

The logo takes inspiration from the rounded corners featured within the design of the building and the overlapping shapes reinforce the idea of connection.

The intent behind the branding was to reflect the landmark nature of the facility, a space that will elevate and enhance community connection, wellbeing, culture and identity.

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