More delays for shire pool as recreation centre due for ‘staged’ reopening next week

The Margaret River Recreation Centre will finally reopen to residents on Monday, but not with its signature aquatic centre just yet.

Since the more than $9 million project started in September 2022, the recreation centre has reduced its public offering while the major upgrade and re-roofing project battled through materials and contractor supply difficulties.

However, last-minute detection of a leak in the refurbished pool’s balance tank set back the reopening of the aquatic centre.

The centre was still slated to open on Monday, but the pool would be at least another month away after the Shire of Augusta-Margaret River this week confirmed it had found the specialist contractors needed to bring the pool into safe operation.

The shire had so far struggled to find a private operator for the centre’s new-look cafe, but there were fresh talks now under way with interested parties, shire sustainable economy and communities director Nick Byrne said.

“The new rec centre cafe has been designed to operate as a standalone business and presents a fantastic opportunity for a local entrepreneur or business owner to create something special,” he said.

“We’ve had interest from potential vendors and expect to undertake a tender process shortly.”

A final breakdown of the overall project cost would go before councillors once everything was settled, Mr Byrne said.

The shire initially planned an official public reopening at the end of 2023, before the delays, which included necessary sign-offs from regulating bodies slowing its completion.

Mr Byrne said plans for “an official opening and community celebration” would be announced soon.

The finished project, part-funded with an $8m loan, would see a simplified skillion roof for the entire structure, accessibility features, a new cafe, a timber-look deck and outdoor play space, new toilets, seating, public art and refurbished changerooms.

The work was undertaken because the centre’s roof had reached the end of its life and needed urgent replacement.