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The construction firm behind the Gungahlin Leisure Centre says it has held talks with the ACT government about the complex’s defective 50-metre pool, but neither party will provide detail citing privacy and legal reasons. Mystery continues to surround the exact cause of the tiling problem which has forced the ongoing closure of a pool which opened to much fanfare fewer than seven years ago. The lack of clarity is causing frustration for hundreds of local swimmers, who have been forced to travel across town to train while their local pool remains shut. Sports Minister Yvette Berry this week confirmed that all of the pool’s tiles would be removed and replaced, after they started falling off in June last year. The cost and timeline for the repair work remains unknown, as is a date for the reopening of the centrepiece of the $28.7 million government-owned complex. The Gungahlin complex was built by ADCO Constructions, a renowned building company which has delivered dozens of large-scale aquatic centres across Australia. The Canberra Times on Wednesday asked the company if it had been in contact with the ACT government about the pool, and whether it believed it was in any way responsible for the defects which emerged last year. In a statement, the company, which described itself as an industry leader in building aquatic centres, confirmed that it had spoken with the ACT government “regarding their concerns about the pool”. “As it is private matter between us and the client we are not currently in a position to comment further,” the statement read. The Canberra Times asked Ms Berry to confirm that talks had been held with ADCO Constructions, as well as whether the government would consider pursuing the company for compensation for the faulty tiles. The government spokeswoman who responded on her behalf did not answer the questions directly. The spokeswoman said the ACT government was involved in a “range of commercial negotiations regarding these issues” and would provide further comment once negotiations were complete. Structural engineer Mal Wilson did not have specific knowledge of the problems at Gungahlin Leisure Centre, but said there were a number of reasons why tiles would fall off – or “delaminate” – from swimming pools. Mr Wilson said it could occur as a result of a failure to incorporate adequate “expansion joints” in the tiles, or a failure to control calcium levels in the pool when cement-based grouts are used. The spokeswoman would not comment on whether its experts had identified any of the same potential causes, saying their reports were subject to legal privilege. Canberra Amateur Swimming Club president Kim Mallet expressed frustration at the lack of transparency surrounding the closure. “There has been little to no information provided in relation to the maintenance, and no timeframes,” Ms Mallet said on Wednesday. “While we have been aware that work needs to be undertaken, we would still like to know why work has not already commenced as it seems eight months has been wasted.” Ms Mallet said the club’s 120 members had been forced to use Canberra Olympic Pool as an alternative venue, with the AIS pool also off limits amid the pandemic. “While we are fortunate to be able to train at Canberra Olympic Pool, lane availability is an issue with the facility being utilised by a number of users groups,” she said.
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The construction firm behind the Gungahlin Leisure Centre says it has held talks with the ACT government about the complex’s defective 50-metre pool, but neither party will provide detail citing privacy and legal reasons.
The lack of clarity is causing frustration for hundreds of local swimmers, who have been forced to travel across town to train while their local pool remains shut.
The cost and timeline for the repair work remains unknown, as is a date for the reopening of the centrepiece of the $28.7 million government-owned complex.
The Canberra Times on Wednesday asked the company if it had been in contact with the ACT government about the pool, and whether it believed it was in any way responsible for the defects which emerged last year.
In a statement, the company, which described itself as an industry leader in building aquatic centres, confirmed that it had spoken with the ACT government “regarding their concerns about the pool”.
“As it is private matter between us and the client we are not currently in a position to comment further,” the statement read.
The Canberra Times asked Ms Berry to confirm that talks had been held with ADCO Constructions, as well as whether the government would consider pursuing the company for compensation for the faulty tiles.
The government spokeswoman who responded on her behalf did not answer the questions directly.
The spokeswoman said the ACT government was involved in a “range of commercial negotiations regarding these issues” and would provide further comment once negotiations were complete.
Structural engineer Mal Wilson did not have specific knowledge of the problems at Gungahlin Leisure Centre, but said there were a number of reasons why tiles would fall off – or “delaminate” – from swimming pools.
Mr Wilson said it could occur as a result of a failure to incorporate adequate “expansion joints” in the tiles, or a failure to control calcium levels in the pool when cement-based grouts are used.
The spokeswoman would not comment on whether its experts had identified any of the same potential causes, saying their reports were subject to legal privilege.
Canberra Amateur Swimming Club president Kim Mallet expressed frustration at the lack of transparency surrounding the closure.
“There has been little to no information provided in relation to the maintenance, and no timeframes,” Ms Mallet said on Wednesday.
“While we have been aware that work needs to be undertaken, we would still like to know why work has not already commenced as it seems eight months has been wasted.”
Ms Mallet said the club’s 120 members had been forced to use Canberra Olympic Pool as an alternative venue, with the AIS pool also off limits amid the pandemic.
“While we are fortunate to be able to train at Canberra Olympic Pool, lane availability is an issue with the facility being utilised by a number of users groups,” she said.
