Bay of Plenty Business News May/June 2017
From mid-2016 Bay of Plenty businesses have a new voice, Bay of Plenty Business News. This new publication reflects the region’s growth and importance as part of the wider central North Island economy.
From mid-2016 Bay of Plenty businesses have a new voice, Bay of Plenty Business News. This new publication reflects the region’s growth and importance as part of the wider central North Island economy.
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18 BAY OF PLENTY BUSINESS NEWS <strong>May</strong>/<strong>June</strong> <strong>2017</strong><br />
LIZ VAN WELIE AQUATIC CENTRE<br />
New aquatics centre satisfies<br />
growing BOP demand<br />
From page 17<br />
But they have a viewing area<br />
with wifi and a large table<br />
and seating, where parents can<br />
observe their children and kids<br />
can work on their homework.<br />
After some two years <strong>of</strong><br />
research, during which they<br />
also identified and acquired the<br />
Pyes Pa site, there was another<br />
year or so <strong>of</strong> design and con-<br />
senting work. Construction got<br />
underway in <strong>May</strong> 2016, with<br />
the formal opening in April<br />
this year.<br />
Some <strong>of</strong> the biggest challenges<br />
arose around securing<br />
access to an already established<br />
geothermal bore, which<br />
provides heat for the two pools<br />
and for the building.<br />
“That took a lot longer<br />
than we expected,” says Greg.<br />
“Geothermal is very well protected<br />
in Tauranga and we<br />
respect that it’s a treasured<br />
resource.”<br />
The building was built<br />
north-facing and the plan is<br />
to eventually also install solar<br />
energy panels.<br />
Mark Miedema, director<br />
<strong>of</strong> Canam Construction<br />
(BOP), said the building<br />
had been a very interesting<br />
project. Canam, a privately<br />
owned Auckland-based company<br />
established 60 years<br />
ago, focuses on the commercial<br />
sector and has done a<br />
number <strong>of</strong> major projects.<br />
These include Health House<br />
in Tauriko, the new Rotorua<br />
Police Station and the Whare<br />
Aroha CARE Village development<br />
in Rotorua.<br />
“There were some interesting<br />
challenges with the aquatic<br />
centre,” said Mark.<br />
“Conventionally on most<br />
projects you build from the<br />
ground up and do the deep<br />
work first. In this case, we had<br />
to create the concrete floors to<br />
receive the pools, then put the<br />
shell over the top. Only after<br />
that was nearly complete did<br />
the pool installation start.”<br />
A section <strong>of</strong> the wall was<br />
left open so the stainless steel<br />
pool sections could be craned<br />
in, which were then assembled<br />
while the builders continued to<br />
work around and above them<br />
on other parts <strong>of</strong> the centre.<br />
“It’s been a great job with<br />
a great client,” says Mark.<br />
“Greg and Liz are very passionate<br />
about their facility<br />
and it rubbed <strong>of</strong>f on the<br />
rest <strong>of</strong> us so we understood<br />
why the business was so<br />
Kirk Roberts congratulates<br />
Liz van Welie Aquatics<br />
on the opening <strong>of</strong> their new facility<br />
STRUCTURAL | GEOTECHNICAL | CIVIL | FIRE | PROJECT MANAGEMENT | SHOP DRAWING<br />
Tauranga 07 571 0950 | Christchurch 03 379 8600 | Auckland 09 972 9038<br />
Tauranga 07 571 0950 | Christchurch 03 379 8600 | Auckland 09 972 9038<br />
www.kirkroberts.co.nz<br />
www.kirkroberts.co.nz
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