Pool leak test rains supreme

By Glen Atwell
TWO million litres of collected rain is being used to water-proof test the new 50-metre pool at the Cranbourne Aquatic and Leisure Centre.
The $37 million project is on schedule to open mid next year and after 10 months of construction, developers started testing the main pool last week.
But not a drop of freshwater from Victoria’s parched reservoir will be used.
A two million litre tank, installed at the site late last year, is almost full, and will be used to ensure there are no leaks in the lap pool.
Rainwater harvested from the roof of the adjacent Casey Indoor Leisure Complex and Cranbourne Library have quickly filled the tank,
Once the aquatic centre is open for business, around 26 million litres of drinking water a year will be saved.
With a total roof collection area of 28,000 square metres, the two million litre tank is expected to be full all year round.
The rainwater will then be filtered and disinfected for use in topping up the pool, cleaning pool filters and garden watering.
Even toilets and showers will be powered by the recycled water.
Bore water from South East Water’s Lang Lang plant will be available to the aquatic centre as a backup source in the unlikely event the tank dries up.
Casey mayor Janet Halsall was one of the first to test the waters of the new pool last Thursday.
Councillor Steve Beardon and Cr Mick Moreland were also keen to have a splash.
“It is exciting to see so much progress at the Cranbourne Aquatic and Leisure Centre,” Cr Halsall said.
“The 50-metre pool is now fully constructed and water-proof testing commenced this week”.
Construction of the spa and sauna area is well underway, and development of the centre car park is also well progressed.
The Cranbourne Aquatic and Leisure Centre will feature a lap pool, sauna, spa, steam room, child care facilities and gymnasium when completed.