The Mildura Sporting Precinct indoor court halls will be temporarily closed from April this year to allow for replacement of water-damaged flooring.
Council's Acting General Manager Healthy Communities Thomas Stevenson said the works and resulting closure followed leaks from a water bubbler and air-conditioning ducting that damaged three courts across both court halls.
The manufacturer/installer in both instances quickly repaired the leaks, however resulting moisture unfortunately damaged the flooring, which now needs to be replaced. This will be completed at no cost to Council as it will be covered by insurance.
Air quality testing has confirmed moisture beneath the flooring has not impacted air quality within the court hall and there has been no health or safety risk.
Based on expert advice from the flooring contractor, Council has made the decision to replace the flooring on all three affected courts starting in early April. The flooring is expected to arrive in Mildura from the United Kingdom in the first week of April.
This will remove and prevent further spread of any moisture to ensure there is no health or safety risk while avoiding damage to adjoining courts. Air quality monitoring will continue throughout this period as a precaution.
Mr Stevenson said that while the resulting closure of both court halls was regrettable, it was ultimately the quickest and safest way to carry out the repairs.
He said user groups have been fully briefed.
Council staff will now work closely with each user group over the coming three months to finalise alternative arrangements and venues. Outdoor user groups are unaffected by the works.
Mr Stevenson said the works would begin at the start of April to provide as much lead time as possible for user groups while minimising disruption for competition use.
"Work is scheduled to start on April 7 and take about 10 weeks to complete, including demolition of the existing affected courts, drying and restoration works and installation of the new flooring," he said.
"While we certainly recognise this closure period will impact on user groups, we are working to start on April 7 as it is immediately after the finish of the domestic summer competition, allowing between three and five weeks before many user groups start their winter competition.
"This will hopefully cut any disruption for competition use down to between five and seven weeks."
