Lavington Swim Centre

A staged masterplan to ensure the future of Lavington Swim Centre

Strategic, scalable solutions for aging aquatic facilities

Jasmax is supporting Albury City Council to develop a staged masterplan to replace aging aquatic facilities at Lavington Swim Centre in Melbourne. The Council is exploring how best to cost-effectively maximise the opportunity represented by the upgrade, resulting in four scalable design scenarios, ranging from essential upgrades of core amenities to a significant redevelopment of the site featuring a new water polo pool and multi-sport pavilion.

The challenges facing Lavington Swim Centre are common to many local councils: aging pool facilities with operational, safety and capacity issues. The current six-lane main pool is not only leaking but it is also not Olympic-sized and too shallow to meet current standards. In addition, aging services infrastructure limits year-round operation and flexibility, and no longer meets the community needs for aquatic facilities in this region.

As of May 2025, Albury City Council has opted to support option three – an extensive option which includes a new water polo pool in addition to an Olympic-standard pool. This option received the strongest public support during consultation and proved the most robust socially, economically and strategically. The Lavington Swim Centre redevelopment will include a:

10-lane, 50-metre pool
35-metre x 25-metre water polo pool with a uniform depth of two metres
25-metre utility pool
Splash pad
New pool building featuring administration, kiosk, change rooms and amenities
Multi-purpose social room

Community vision setting that supports informed decision-making

An extensive community consultation process, led by Jasmax and Albury City Council, shaped the brief for the development. Residents of Lavington and North Albury participated through drop-in sessions held at the Swim Centre and local shopping centre, while an online ‘Have Your Say’ survey extended the reach of consultation. Multiple stakeholder groups, including the facility operator, sports associations, local resident and community groups, were also engaged through focus groups conducted over several months. The strong public response, demonstrated through attendance at sessions and over 400 survey submissions, reflected a high level of community interest. Feedback provided valuable insights into how the existing facility is used, its shortcomings and its most valued features. This input has been instrumental in ensuring the Council’s investment decisions are shaped for and with the community.

Community priorities included enhanced support for swim training and competitions, health and fitness activities, changing facilities, maintaining existing shade trees, consideration of water play, programmes such as learn-to-swim opportunities for the culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) population and remedial water therapy programs for seniors, alongside an additional pool to support the growth of water polo and aquatic team sports.

Unlocking the potential of the wider precinct

Part of the wider Jelbart Park Sports Precinct, the Swim Centre is adjacent to sports fields, offering opportunities for shared amenity. The masterplan aims to maximise the functionality and utility of the site to serve a wide range of community sports and recreational users, including neighbouring soccer and softball clubs. In addition to enlarging the main pool to a ten-lane, Olympic-standard pool and constructing a new water polo pool, the most ambitious option considers a multi-sport pavilion, designed to be accessed both through the aquatic centre and directly from the Jelbart Park.

This pavilion will offer change facilities for players and officials, supporting the needs of clubs using the adjacent fields while also accommodating major aquatic events. By meeting both immediate community requirements and broader regional demand, the new amenities will strengthen patronage and become a valued asset.

Jasmax acknowledges the Wiradjuri People as Traditional Custodians of the Country upon which the Lavington Swim Centre is located.

We’re planning for the future – not just for today. Lavington deserves a facility which meets the needs of our growing community, and Stage 3 offers a smart, long-term solution that reflects where Albury is heading. This option delivers the most value for the community while remaining an investment in our future. The existing pool has two years left and is no longer meeting modern standards for safety or usage.

— Albury Mayor Kevin Mack

Project Details

Client

Albury City Council

Sector

Sports & Recreation

Location

Melbourne

Status

Ongoing

Size

19,250sqm

Design Collaborators

MLEI Consulting Engineers (aquatic consultants)