CH

AR

LEST

OW

NLe

isur

e C

entre

Con

cept

Lake Macquarie City Council (LMCC) own six swimming centres and operate four of these. The centres are best described as traditional municipal pools that do not currently offer many of the design and operational features found in modern aquatic centres.

In June 2009, Council resolved to adopt the Pool Service Delivery Model (PSDM) as the strategy for the future development of the City’s public swimming centres. Council has since resolved to support the development of plans for Charlestown and Swansea Swim Centres to the development application stage as the two highest priorities. The PSDM developed some preliminary schemes in consultation with the community . In December last year Council engaged Peddle Thorp Architects and Facility Design Group to develop contemporary designs for each centre based upon the PSDM recommendations.

Modern aquatic centres offer more than just traditional swimming sports, with new designs providing the community with a number of healthy activities. To reflect this modern design focus, our swim centres are set to become Leisure Centres.

Concepts are now ready to be showcased and Council wants to hear from you about these design concepts.

Charlestown is the central business district for Lake Macquarie. The Charlestown Master Plan predicts that the housing and commercial density in the immediate vicinity of the swim centre will increase in the future. Charlestown Swim Centre is in a prime position to capitalise on the growth of the Charlestown area. Currently Charlestown swim centre is Council’s busiest with close to double the amount of visits than any other pool.

The existing pools and amenities reception block require significant upgrades and their current locations hinder the future development of the site. Due to these constraints, none of the existing facilities are proposed to be retained.

The development of the Charlestown swim centre provides community infrastructure that will enable the activation of the broader site and the master plan of Charlestown and the region. Charlestown is designed to be the major district Leisure Centre and will offer the largest variety of activities of any centre in Lake Macquarie.

DIC

KIN

SON

ST

SMIT

H S

T

PAC

IFIC

HIG

HW

AY

MULBINGA ST

MILSO

N ST

JAMES ST

DUDLEY ROAD

FREDERICK ST

CHARLES ST

ATTUNGA PARK

PRIMARY SCHOOL

CHARLESTOWN PARK

CO

MM

ERC

IAL

PREC

INC

T

RET

AIL

PR

ECIN

CT

PROPOSED AQUATIC CENTRE

RESIDENTIAL AREA

RESIDENTIAL AREA

RESIDENTIAL

AREAR

ESIDEN

TIAL

AR

EA

RESIDENTIAL AREA RESIDENTIAL AREA

RESIDENTIAL AREA

RESIDENTIAL

CH

AR

LEST

OW

NLe

isur

e C

entre

Con

cept

The Charlestown Leisure Centre will replace the existing facilities and pools. The Centre will provide year-round aquatic and fitness services.

Charlestown Leisure Centre is located adjacent to the Charlestown commercial precinct. Charlestown is a major regional centre within Council’s Lifestyle 2030 Strategic Plan. It is expected to contain a concentration of medium

and high-density residential, retail, social and medical services, and civic functions and facilities. The proposed Leisure Centre will become the major district aquatic leisure facility for Lake Macquarie.

The proposed entry along Dickinson Street is at a similar location to the existing entrance. The fitness and well-being centre is located above the entry with the pool hall

wrapping around the southern side of the site - providing a sunny aspect for all pools. The pool hall and fitness centre also protect the outdoor 50m pool from southerly and westerly winds. To the south of the new facility, formal car parking spaces are increased to 141 within a landscaped precinct.

About the concept design

CH

AR

LEST

OW

NLe

isur

e C

entre

Con

cept

CH

AR

LEST

OW

NLe

isur

e C

entre

Con

cept

Ground floor

CH

AR

LEST

OW

NLe

isur

e C

entre

Con

cept

First floor

CH

AR

LEST

OW

NLe

isur

e C

entre

Con

cept

External view

CH

AR

LEST

OW

NLe

isur

e C

entre

Con

cept

View from Dickinson Street

CH

AR

LEST

OW

NLe

isur

e C

entre

Con

cept

Multi-function pool

CH

AR

LEST

OW

NLe

isur

e C

entre

Con

cept

25m pool

CH

AR

LEST

OW

NLe

isur

e C

entre

Con

cept

Gym over-looking 50m pool

Leis

ure

Cen

tre C

once

ptLake Macquarie City Council (LMCC) own six swimming centres and operate four of these. The centres are best described as traditional municipal pools that do not currently offer many of the design and operational features found in modern aquatic centres.

In June 2009, Council resolved to adopt the Pool Service Delivery Model (PSDM) as the strategy for the future development of the City’s public swimming centres. Council has since resolved to support the development of plans for Charlestown and Swansea Swim Centres to the development application stage as the two highest priorities. The PSDM developed some preliminary schemes in consultation with the community . In December last year Council engaged Peddle Thorp Architects and Facility Design Group to develop contemporary designs for each centre based upon the PSDM recommendations.

Modern aquatic centres offer more than just traditional swimming sports, with new designs providing the community with a number of healthy activities. To reflect this modern design focus, our swim centres are set to become Leisure Centres.

Concepts are now ready to be showcased and Council wants to hear from you about these design concepts.

Swansea is characterised as Lake Macquarie’s coastal township. Swansea is adjacent to the Swansea Channel which is the entrance to Lake Macquarie. The existing Swim Centre is slightly elevated and looks over the Channel with views out towards the headland.

The swim centre is Council’s oldest, built in 1961. It is located on a 1.9 hectare lot but the majority of this lot used as a sports oval by the neighbouring school. The age and orientation of the existing facility, plus the lack of car parking, has meant that the proposed new facility will replace all existing structures.

Swansea is designed to be the major local Leisure Centre. The proposed design maximises the space available and includes the closure of Channel Street between Belmont and Rawson Streets to provide a recreational connection between the Centre, the Channel and the shared pathway.

ret

ail

pr

ecin

ct

pac

iFic

HW

Y

Ma

cQ

Ua

rie

St

cHannel

JOSe

pHSO

n S

t

SWa

nSe

a St

BelMOnt St

raWSOn St

reSiDential area

QUinnparK

SWanSeapUBlicScHOOl

WOrKerSclUB

PROPOSED CLOSURE BETWEEN BELMONT & RAWSON ST

prOpOSeD aQUaticcentre

ga

lga

BB

a St

peli

ca

n S

t

Leis

ure

Cen

tre C

once

pt

Situated on the Swansea Channel and within walking distance of the Swansea commercial area, the proposed Leisure Centre replaces the aging Swim Centre. The facility will provide a variety of health and fitness services all year round.

The proposal includes closing Channel Street between Belmont and Rawson Street to create a recreational space and a connection between the facility and the Swansea Channel. The facility will have 24 formal car parks, with entry to the carpark via a new roundabout

at the intersection of Belmont and Josephson Street. The roundabout will act as a traffic calming device along Belmont St.

The existing 50m pool location has been adjusted and realigned to allow views across Swansea Channel from both the pool area and spectator seating. The open frontage along the channel allows for connections to the cycle and walking paths. It is proposed that the 50m pool remain a seasonal operating pool.

Indoor facilities will include an aquatic hall and a gym / fitness area which will be open all year round. The aquatic hall contains a multi- purposes pool with a leisure beach entry that ramps down and wraps around to a program pool. The program pool will be used for learn to swim and other warm water activities. The gym / fitness area will have vistas across Swansea Channel and provide the community with a number health activities. A multi-purpose room provides an opportunity for classes, meetings and swim club use.

About the concept design

Leis

ure

Cen

tre C

once

pt

MA

CQ

UA

RIE

ST

JOSE

PHSO

N S

T

BELMONT ST

CHANNEL

QUINN PARK

PROPOSED CLOSURE OF CHANNEL ST BETWEEN BELMONT & RAWSON ST

24 CAR SPACES

PROPOSED AQUATIC CENTRE

HUNTERVALLEY WATER PUMPING STATION

POTENTIAL FUTURE PLANT ACCESS

Leis

ure

Cen

tre C

once

pt

Leis

ure

Cen

tre C

once

pt View from carpark

Leis

ure

Cen

tre C

once

pt Multi-purpose indoor pool

Leis

ure

Cen

tre C

once

pt 50m pool

Leis

ure

Cen

tre C

once

pt 50m pool

Leis

ure

Cen

tre C

once

pt Gym / fitness area

Leis

ure

Cen

tre C

once

pt Reception