The Kew Recreation Centre is undergoing a major redevelopment to transform into a modern facility that is suitable for all ages, abilities, and caters to a wide range of health and wellbeing needs.
Status
Construction is currently on track to be completed by mid-2023. Structural works are progressing well and the concrete formwork for the pools is now underway.
For the latest information about the progress of this project, read the Project timeline section on this page.
Watch the 3D fly-through of our final design
You can watch the fly-through of our final design on the City of Boroondara YouTube channel.
About the design
This new purpose-built facility will provide our community with modern recreation and aquatic facilities to be enjoyed by all ages and abilities.
The previous facility was in poor condition and no longer met the community’s expectations or catered for future demographic growth.
Our new centre will help our community improve or maintain health and wellbeing, play team sports, connect with others and meet specialised health needs.
The Kew Recreation Centre redevelopment is supported by the Victorian Government.
Features of the new centre
Our new Kew Recreation Centre includes:
- a dedicated learn-to-swim pool for swimming lessons
- a secluded warm water pool for gentle exercise and rehabilitation
- an aqua play area for young people to play and explore
- an onsite childcare with outdoor play area
- bigger change rooms that cater for individuals, groups and families
- 2 indoor sports courts providing much needed space for a range of local participants
- allied health suites to support your health and wellness goals
- divided health and fitness areas for both ‘noisy’ and ‘quiet’ group exercise classes
- landscaped forecourt and café to meet, gather and socialise
- increased parking onsite
- a party room.
Accessibility features
The new centre will be more accessible to people of all abilities and includes:
- a dedicated office and activity space for Boroondara Stroke Support Group
- larger change rooms that can cater for families and school groups
- more car parking options, including accessible parking and wider spaces for prams
- stair and lift access from the undercover car park
- a fully accessible spa via ramp access
- a sensory room to suit families with a range of needs and abilities.
Sustainability features
The new centre has a number of environmental sustainable design elements, including:
- 500 KW solar panel system
- high-performance insulation, glazing and air-tightness to reduce energy consumption
- storage of the pool waste water to be re-used for toilet flushing
- water-efficient fittings and fixtures
- rainwater harvesting to be re-used for landscape irrigation.
Community consultation
We have worked closely with our community to develop a modern facility that includes the latest recreation and aquatic facilities for all ages and abilities.
Each space, including the accessibility and design features, has been determined based on community feedback across 3 stages of consultation to ensure we meet the needs of our users.
As a result, we are delighted to be delivering a fun and engaging space that caters to a wide range of health and wellbeing needs for our community.
What we heard
There were a number of key topics and themes that arose during consultation.
Aquatics
You told us you wanted more water spaces for different activities, such as warm water exercise and rehabilitation, swimming lessons and children’s play in addition to lap swimming. We prioritised adding in these programmable spaces and a 25m lap pool over a single 50m lap pool.
Sauna
You told us how much you love the sauna, so in addition to a bigger and better one in the new centre we have added a sauna facility to the Hawthorn Aquatic and Leisure Centre too.
Aqua play
We have created a fun and colourful aqua play area with a large slide and a wide array of splash pad features to entertain children of all ages because we heard how important this area was to you.
Childcare
You told us how valuable a childcare facility is, so this service remains along with a new outdoor play area to support families’ health and wellbeing needs.
Parking
Improved and accessible underground car parking was added to increase parking capacity, along with additional bicycle parking.
ADCO Constructions prepared a Construction Management Plan (CMP) detailing the processes and methodologies that are being used during the construction works. For more information, watch the February 2021 CMP resident briefing.
Project timeline
|
When |
Stage |
Progress update |
Status |
|---|---|---|---|
|
September 2018 |
Community consultation phase one |
We asked the community to provide feedback about what was important to them and what they would like to see in the new centre. |
 |
|
September to October 2019 |
Community consultation phase two |
We asked the community to provide feedback about the proposed design. |
|
|
November 2019 |
Plans released |
We continued to work closely with the community on the final design elements for the centre. |
|
| March 2020 | Renders available to view | We gave the community a visual look at the new exterior of the centre. |
|
| November 2020 | Demolition to commence | Demolition of the old centre was completed in February 2021. |
|
| March 2021 | Construction commenced | Construction of the new Kew Recreation Centre began. |
|
| April 2021 | Retention and foundation piling commenced | Foundation works were completed in June 2021. |
|
| May 2021 | Community consultation phase three | We consulted with the community on the final design for the aqua play area. |
|
| May 2021 to April 2022 | Suspended framework and concrete pours | Framework and concrete pours progressing well. | |
| August 2021 | Final renders released | We shared the final design for the centre, including the aqua play area. Take a virtual tour. |
|
| August 2021 | Tower Crane erected | Tower crane anticipated to be removed in May 2022 |
|
| December 2021 | Pool structures begin | The 'learn to swim' pool structure has commenced | |
| June 2022 | Roof and exterior wall installation begins | ||
| July 2022 | Internal fit-out | Installation of final amenities | |
| February 2023 | Aqua play installation and landscaping | ||
|
Early-mid 2023 |
Construction expected to be completed |
|
Alternative locations
Kew Recreation Centre members have reciprocal rights to use our other Boroondara Leisure and Aquatic Facilities. Hawthorn Aquatic and Leisure Centre, Boroondara Sports Complex and Ashburton Pool and Recreation Centre are available for use in alignment with coronavirus (COVID-19) restrictions.
For more information, visit YMCA’s Kew Recreation Centre redevelopment page.
More information
For information about construction of the new centre, contact our Sport and Recreation team on (03) 9278 4444 or email [email protected]
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