Aquatic and Leisure Centre in Fraser Rise – Indoor Swimming Pool and Sports Centre in Timber Construction with Glued Laminated Timber

Melton City Council’s new Aquatic and Leisure Centre is being developed on Beattys Road, Fraser Rise, around 30 km north-west of Melbourne. Construction began in November 2025, with completion scheduled for 2028. With funding of $15 million from the “Thriving Suburbs Program”, the Australian government is supporting a project specifically designed to meet the needs of a dynamically growing residential region. Its location within the Plumpton Precinct Structure Plan ensures long-term access to health, leisure and community facilities.
As a public sports and leisure centre realised in modern timber construction, the project relies on a high-performance roof structure made of glued laminated timber and positions itself as a forward-looking reference in international timber engineering.

Water Worlds for Different User Groups

The facility combines sports, leisure and wellbeing uses within the carefully coordinated architecture. A 50 m competition pool with barrier-free access forms the sporting core, complemented by non-swimmer areas as well as a leisure and toddler pool with a “beach entry”, a gently sloping, step-free access to the water.
Thermal and spa zones further expand the range of uses, alongside slides and splash areas. A sensory water space represents a particular highlight: for the first time in Australia, it creates an environment specifically tailored to people with sensory sensitivities.

Sports and Leisure Centre with a Glued Laminated Timber Structural System

The indoor swimming pools were selected in timber construction for the main load-bearing system, which is optimally tailored to the specific requirements of the highly corrosive swimming facility with low air humidity and high temperatures.

The interior programme is complemented by training areas, wellbeing spaces, changing rooms and a café. A multi-purpose and event room expands the offering for community use.
An outdoor pool area enhances the complex as a meeting place for different user groups and extends the leisure facilities beyond the indoor zones. The roof structure made of glued laminated timber forms the structural backbone of the building and, thanks to its high load-bearing capacity and stiffness, enables the large spans required.

Sustainable Operation and Energy-Efficient Building Concept in Timber Construction

The centre will be operated entirely on electricity and is targeting a 5-Star Green Star certification. The planning approach focuses on closely coordinating technical systems and structural decisions to ensure long-term energy efficiency and operational reliability.

Given the high energy demand of a facility of this size, the building concept prioritises durability, ease of maintenance and a sustainably oriented mode of operation. In this context, the renewable raw material wood plays a key role.

Timber Engineering with Glued Laminated Timber – Precision through BIM and Prefabrication

Detailed design is being supported by HESS TIMBER, a HASSLACHER group company based in Kleinheubach, Germany. For the high-corrosivity swimming pool, a highly technical timber engineering concept is being developed, with the structural system, service routing and building services fully coordinated in a three-dimensional BIM environment. A key technical benefit offered by HASSLACHER group is the supply of full-length beams for the 33 m main span, eliminating the high-risk steel splice connections over the inaccessible pool structures.
This allows structural requirements, technical integration and installation logistics to be efficiently aligned. The high degree of prefabrication of the glued laminated timber structure not only ensures components manufactured to precise dimensions but also enables fast and efficient installation on site.

Roof Structure Made of 375 m³ of Glued Laminated Timber for Large Spans

A total of 375 m³ of glued laminated timber from the HASSLACHER group is being produced for the roof structure above the two indoor pool areas as well as the external canopy. The glued laminated timber roof construction takes into account the climatic demands of a swimming pool with low air humidity and ensures the long-term performance of the structural system.

HASSLACHER group is proud to have contributed its comprehensive timber construction expertise to this project.