A further $110,000 has been allocated by Gunnedah Shire Council (GSC) for works on the Gunnedah Memorial Pool upgrade.
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GSC resolved to allocate the additional funds to the upgrade at an extraordinary meeting held on Wednesday.
The funds will go towards additional remediation works and storm water drainage works to the new pavilion.
GSC’S contract project manager Mike Silver said demolition of the former main pavilion highlighted that structural elements of the old basement had deteriorated more than expected, resulting in the need for further remediation works.
“The construction plan provides for the new pavilion to be constructed over the existing basement section of the original pavilion,” Mr Silver said.
“Demolition work has revealed the need for additional remediation works on that area to ensure the structural capability of the new pavilion is not compromised.”
Mr Silver said building upon the old pavillion’s basement was the most cost effective method of construction for the new pavillion.
“Complete demolition of the basement section and subsequent rebuilding would have been an extremely expensive exercise," he said.
“Despite the need for additional remediation works, the retention of the basement is the most cost-effective method to provide the base footprint for the new pavilion.”
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The contract project manager said the additional funds will be used for upgrades to the sites storm water drainage system.
“This is a multi-million dollar project that will have an operational life of at least 60 years. It will be a huge benefit to the Gunnedah community, so council needs to make sure it gets it right,” he said.
“Adjustments to the storm water drainage system around the pool complex will also be addressed in the funding allocation to ensure the effective operation of the system.
The additional funds come on top of the projects initial $11.4 million budget, and is expected to be complete before next summer.