Coffey Projects successfully manages $15.5m Project to Expand Recreation Options in Barossa Valley

With the opening of Rex Barossa Aquatic and Fitness, Barossa residents and visitors can now enjoy a range of recreational activities in an exciting and modern centre.

As soon as you enter through the new lobby to the light-filled centre, it is clear that this is a facility of which the community can be duly proud.

Equipped with a 25 metre lap pool and a large leisure pool (incorporating a warm pool suitable for hydrotherapy and learn to swim classes) this centre caters for everybody. The leisure pool has been designed with fun in mind – featuring a shallow lagoon entry along with fountains, jet sprays and bubblers. These reinforced concrete fully-tiled pools represent a marked upgrade on the 60 year old pool at Nuriootpa which they replace.

The new premium basketball court adds to the two existing ones, which have been extended and upgraded, and complies with current standards. Excellent viewing areas are provided along with a cafe where the sports can be watched. A gymnasium area has also been fitted out with the latest equipment, with a new aerobics area to follow in the next stage of development.

The completion of this project represents the third successful collaboration between The Barossa Council, Coffey Projects, DASH Architects and Rider Levett Bucknall, the previous developments being the Nuriootpa Branch Library and the Barossa Council Administration Centre in Nurioopta.

As the Council’s project managers, Coffey Projects worked as the client representatives and risk managers to assist in delivering another project on budget, on time and to excellent standards.

According to Project Director, Coffey Projects’ Jim Allen, “Working to a strict budget of $13.5m for the first stages, we identified how we could keep to budget without compromising the scope or quality of work, or the functionality of the centre.”

According to David Morcom, The Barossa Council CEO, “Council has been fortunate to partner with Coffey Projects as our project manager to deliver the Rex project. Given the new facility is adjoining the existing centre, and the complexities that arose from that, Coffey Projects assisted and advised Council through the entire process ensuring that we delivered a community-focused product under budget.”

The centre has been designed with longevity, maintenance and minimising energy consumption in mind, with an emphasis on providing an environmentally sustainable development, and keeping ongoing running costs to a minimum.

Project Architect, Nicole Dent from DASH Architects, explains some of the environmental aspects of the project. “We have maximised natural light and ventilation and used materials chosen for their thermal properties. The northern side of the centre features overhangs designed to alleviate the effect of the hot summer sun, while the southern light is captured with the use of glass and Danpalon – a polycarbonate sheeting that has much better thermal qualities than glass.”

“The centre features 200,000 litres of rainwater collection, which is used for the toilets. To encourage bike riding, we have made a feature of the bike parking at the front. Provision has also been made for future solar heating for the pool.

“We also felt it was important to re-use as much of the existing building as possible, from both an environmental and budget perspective.”

On the opening of the centre, Jim reflected, “We have enjoyed the collaboration and cooperation with the consultants, managing contractor – trade, contractors and Council. The centre is highly functional, aesthetically pleasing, and is fit for purpose while representing sensible expenditure without cutting corners.”

“One of the fantastic outcomes of the project is that it provides a great recreational alternative for local youth and children. Being located in Tanunda makes it accessible to many towns in the region.”

With a federal government grant of $2m having been secured to go towards the final stage of the project, this phase will involve the upgrading of the existing facility which incorporates the crche and two basketball courts. Six custom-built squash courts with movable internal walls will also be constructed. Work on this final stage will start immediately and finish in August this year.

Jim said, “Securing this funding was seen as significant. It represented confidence from the Federal Government in The Barossa Council, the process and their Project Team including Coffey Projects as their project managers.”

Other members of the Project Team included the architects and interior designers, DASH Architects; the cost consultants, Rider Levett Bucknall; Aurecon who were the services consultants and structural and civil consultants; the managing contractors, Candetti Constructions and South Pacific Pools, the design and construct contractor for the pools. Local steel fabricators Ahrens Engineering supplied the structural steel.