The Newlands pool closed down in 2017 as it underwent major upgrades to the facility that reportedly cost the City of Cape Town about R22 million, more than what was budgeted for.
According to the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Community Services and Health, Patricia van der Ross, the complexity of the existing infrastructure, the age of the swimming pool, and its heritage significance were considered as the COCT increased budget.
The defects liability period for technical glitches is still to be effected before regulatory authorities can assess and provide compliancy sign off for the facility to be opened to the public.
“Due to the many infrastructural challenges in the filtration plant room area, old asbestos pipes and infrastructure had to also be replaced,” Van der Ross explained.
Some of the major upgrades to this popular Cape Town attraction included:
- Repair of the filtration pipes
- Removal of old walls for new tiling inside the pools
- Paving of pool decks
- Waterproofing of all structural and expansion joints as well as the pool basin
- Upgrades of the electrical reticulation system
- Additional work on the grandstand, plant room and existing buildings around the grandstand is expected to be completed in the next month or two.
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Picture: COCT/Facebook
