Adelaide Aquatic Centre

The Adelaide Aquatic Centre is a complex of indoor heated swimming pools operated by the Adelaide City Council and located in the northernmost extent of the Adelaide Parklands.

Facilities

The Adelaide Aquatic Centre features a 50 metre Olympic-sized swimming pool and a smaller adjacent pool used for diving, water polo, kayak polo and aqua aerobics.cite web | title = Facilities | url = http://www.cityofadelaide.com.au/scripts/nc.dll?ADCCBRAND.4390974:STANDARD:702348654:pc=PC_53 | accessdate = 2007-11-25 | work = Adelaide Aquatic Centre | publisher = Adelaide City Council] Both of these pools are surrounded on three sides by raised seating for competition spectators. The wet areas also include an eight-sided 'Octopool' for children's swimming lessons and recreational use, two leisure pools, two water slides, two spas, a dry sauna and a steam room. At extra cost (unless one becomes a member), the centre offers a crèche and a health club equipped with cardio machines, pin-loaded weight machines and free weights. There are also shops providing swimming equipment and food, and an outdoor barbecue area.

Location

The centre is located in North Adelaide, in the square of parkland bordered by Jeffcott Street, Barton Terrace West, Prospect Road and Fitzroy Terrace. There is a car park to the west whose entrance is off Jeffcott Street, but the entrance to the centre itself faces north, towards Fitzroy Terrace.

Fees

The Adelaide Aquatic Centre has a complex set of fees and charges.cite web | title = Hours and Fees | url = http://www.cityofadelaide.com.au/scripts/nc.dll?ADCCBRAND.4390974:STANDARD:702348654:pc=PC_56 | accessdate = 2007-11-25 | work = Adelaide Aquatic Centre | publisher = Adelaide City Council] There are different prices for casual visitors to wet areas, to the health club and to fitness classes; there is an option of purchasing a stored value card for multiple visits to wet areas; and both full membership and 'lifestyle membership' options of various lengths, where lifestyle membership also includes access to the golf course owned by the Council. In addition, there are separate prices for families, single adults, children, and concession card holders (Health Care Card or full-time tertiary students).

State of Maintenance

Peak representative bodies such as Diving Australia, Swimming Australia and the Aquatic Sports Coalition of SA have criticised the condition of facilities at the Adelaide Aquatic Centre.cite news | title = Aquatic Centre too run-down | first = Craig | last = Bildstien | date = 2005-03-07 | publisher = The Advertiser] A submission for funding lodged by Marion City Council claimed that the Adelaide Aquatic Centre's pool is not compliant with standards set by the International Swimming Federation, FINA, and that there has not been a compliant pool in South Australia since the 1990s. An article published in March 2005 quoted executive director of Diving Australia, Mary Godden, as saying that the pool "is without question the most run-down facility in Australia". On 16 October 2007, damage was sustained in a storm that resulted in falling panes of glass injuring a spectator in a swimming carnival.cite news | title = Panes crash scares children | first = Michael | last = Milnes | date = 2007-09-18 | publisher = The Advertiser]

References

External links

* [http://www.adelaideaquaticcentre.com.au Official website]