First AstralPool shipment arrives in Melbourne
The shipping containers docked in Melbourne from Barcelona this week, home of temporary pool manufacturers, AstralPool.
In total, 40 containers carrying the temporary pool infrastructure will be shipped to Melbourne from Spain. The remaining 18 containers will arrive in Melbourne in coming weeks.
The containers will be placed into storage until installation of the temporary pools begins in early February. Installation of the warm-up pool is scheduled to begin on 7 February 2007, while work on the main competition pool will begin on 9 February.
“The arrival of the temporary pool equipment is the first of several key landmarks in the lead up to the start of the World Championships, which is now less than 100 days away,” Mr Beddison said.
“This initial shipment of 22 containers has taken six weeks to get to Melbourne but in less than eight weeks their contents will be taken to Rod Laver Arena and Melbourne Park to create one of the most stunning environments in Australian sporting history.”
Mr Beddison said the prospect of installing a temporary pool on centre court was sure to capture the imagination of the Australian sporting public.
“Rod Laver Arena is an iconic venue, it bares the name of an Australian sporting legend and in March it will become the home of the world’s best aquatic athletes,” he said.
“It is going to be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to watch some of Australia’s sporting superstars – Hackett, Lenton and Jones – compete against some of the biggest names in world sport.
“This is going to be an unforgettable spectacle and an event not to be missed.”
More than 35 workers and technicians will be involved in the pool’s construction and disassembly, with work expected to finish by Tuesday 17 April 2007.
Astral’s “Skypool” technology employs standing panels of hot galvanised steel, enabling the pool to sit suspended above the existing floor surface of Rod Laver Arena.
In a big win for local communities, the Victorian Government has purchased the temporary pools along with plant and equipment and made them available to local communities as a legacy of hosting the event.
The pools modular design allows for them to be relocated as permanent facilities of up to four pools between 25 and 50 metres. The Victorian Government has made pools available to communities in Frankston, East Bentleigh, Geelong and Sunshine.
The Victorian Government is also undertaking an exhaustive study to look at a number of re-use options for the water that will be used in the pool.
A thorough feasibility study is closely examining the water treatment required, and the timely and affordable recycling of the water after the event. The outcome of the study and the final re-use plan for the water will be announced early next year.
The 12th FINA World Championships will be held in Melbourne from 17 March – 1 April 2007.
Tickets to the Championships are available from http://www.ticketek.com.au/, or by calling Ticketek on 1300 136 494.