PLANS to upgrade the Horsham Aquatic Centre's outdoor pool have advanced.
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The upgrade is a part of the project's second stage, which includes improvements to the wet deck guttering system, alterations to the pool's shell and a universal access ramp.
In a report to the council on Monday night, project manager Madelein van Heerden said the council has completed stage one of the project last year, but it has struggled to find bids for stage two within its budget.
See pages 18 to 22 for full report:
She recommended the council to accept a tender of $1,504,500, which was $188,000 over the budget allocation.
The council has $1,316,160 to spend on stage two of the upgrades. However, Ms van Heerden said the bid was the council's "cheapest, viable solution."
The budget increase will be sourced from the Horsham Aquatic Centre's reserve.
Horsham Rural City councillor Pam Clarke said the project will prolong the life of the outdoor pool. She said it was important to make this pool accessible for people with a disability.
"I have always been in favour of a ramp rather than a sling, which is quite embarrassing for people to be put in and hulled over the pool to be dropped in," she said.
"We put a ramp in the indoor pool and got floating wheelchairs, which is far more dignified. I am thrilled a ramp is a part of this proposal."
There was a unanimous vote in favour for awarding the tender to Statewide Pools for the lump sum of $1,504,500.
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