PROJECT INFORMATION
Start Date: April 2017
Cost: R4.5 m
Project Type: Sport
Year Completed: 2018
Project Team: Andrew Thomson, Adrian Vockerodt, Mel Vockerodt, AfriCoast Consulting Engineers and RPE Quantity Surveyors and Construction Cost Consultants
Indoor heated teaching pool to encourage participation in swimming as a life skill.
PROJECT
A new stand-alone building within the secure area of the existing Ramond Mhlaba Sports Centre and linked to existing changeroom facilities via the security-controlled courtyard.
Indoor heated teaching pool, 20 m long and 7 m wide, ranging from 0.6 m to 0.9 m in depth. The steel structure is galvanised and coated, while aluminium cladding, stainless steel box gutters and low maintenance materials complete the picture.
It is a cost and energy-efficient building, maximising natural light and ventilation. The pool water is heated by means of heat pumps powered by solar photovoltaic (PV) panels on the roof.
Power for lighting is generated by PV panels on the roof.
The pool is fibreglass-lined to reduce heat loss and the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality will contribute a pool blanket when funds are available.
Rainwater is harvested from the roof and stored in 40 000-litre tanks.
The existing perimeter wall was incorporated into the building façade and the curved former braai recesses were repurposed as rainwater tank enclosures.
FUNDING PARTNERS
- Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality – owner, co-managing and maintaining the facility
- Transnet – community programme. Motherwell was selected after a number of members of the Motherwell Rugby Football Club drowned at New Brighton Beach
- National Lottery – funding Swimming SA through Nelson Mandela Bay Aquatics.
PROJECT PARTNERS
- Motherwell Community Forums
- Nelson Mandela Bay Aquatics – Project facilitators
- The Dutch Learn2Swim programme – co-managers and training local accredited coaches
LEARN2SWIM CONCEPT
An approach adopted by Swimming SA to encourage mass participation in swimming as a life skill, through skills transfer from professional swimming instructors to local volunteers, leading to permanent jobs and maximising the number of learn-to-swim participants.
A relaxed, friendly and supportive swimming environment is created for teaching toddlers, young children and adults to swim.
The swimming skills learnt at Learn2Swim support and encourage the safe use of the Metro’s Olympic-sized pools and further the transformation programme of NMBA and SSA, ultimately leading to Motherwell producing potential swimming champions.
The success of this pilot project can lead to the roll-out of similar facilities in other areas.
