The southern Gold Coast's largest community facility has officially reopened following an $87.5 million refurbishment, necessary to meet the demands of one of the city's fastest growing regions.
Mayor Tom Tate welcomed the first guests through the gates of the new and improved Palm Beach Aquatic and Community Centre today which is expected to see around 600,000 visitors in its first year.
Mayor Tate said the much-anticipated project had already proven popular with more than 1200 fitness memberships and more than 1000 learn to swim registrations received before opening day.
"This is an exciting day for thousands of southern Gold Coasters who have been eagerly awaiting the opening of one of the city's best integrated aquatic, fitness and community centre facilities.
"The Palm Beach Aquatic and Community Centre is the southern Gold Coast's single largest community infrastructure project for the City which will service the growing community for the next 50 years.
"The centre has something for everyone, from swimming laps and taking part in aquatic programs, working out at the gym, joining a community activity or catching up with friends at the new café."
The redevelopment includes a new community centre with a large multipurpose hall and breakout area for up to 300 people, a dance studio, flexible spaces and a creche.
Aquatic facilities include a much larger warm water program pool, an expanded Learn to Swim pool and children's waterplay area.
There is a new 25-metre heated outdoor pool jointly funded with the Queensland Government's Local Government Grants and Subsidies Program which contributed $1.95 million.
The existing 50-metre pool originally built in the early 1980s has been refurbished with a retractable shade.
The new look centre has been designed with sub-tropical influences, spacious entrance foyer with alfresco café, wide veranda style concourses, light filled pool hall, expansive podiums with shade umbrellas and landscaped surrounds.
"The look and feel of the new centre reflects the culture, climate, and character of the southern Gold Coast," Mayor Tate said.
"It sets a new benchmark for resort style integrated facilities on the Gold Coast following significant investment in increasing aquatics offering with the redeveloped Miami Aquatic Centre and the new Pimpama Sports Hub."
The centre's opening hours are Monday to Friday 5am – 8pm, Saturday 6am – 5pm and Sunday 7am – 4pm.
