Overview

Wagga Wagga City Council is undertaking a major project to improve energy efficiency and reduce emissions at the Oasis Aquatic Centre at Bolton Park, in Morgan Street.

The Oasis is a dedicated aquatic facility serving the Wagga Wagga and regional community needs with multiple indoor and outdoor heated pools, and a range of workout spaces. The facility is a vibrant and engaging centre serving as a recreation hub for families and individuals of all ages.

Currently, Oasis uses gas boilers to provide heating of the pool hall, changing rooms, pool water and domestic hot water.

The upgrade project is designed to modernise the facility’s heating and plant network, which is more than 20 years old, and transfer the Oasis onto an upgraded all-electric network.

The electrification of the facility is a significant step for Council to align with long term emissions targets. It would save approximately 1400 tonnes of emissions (based on the site-specific emissions factors).

Paired with Council’s electricity purchase agreement that provides 100% renewable power for large sites, the project will effectively transform the Oasis to a net zero emissions energy facility. As Council’s biggest gas-using asset this is a significant step towards meeting Council’s Corporate Net Zero Strategy 2040 goals.

Scope of Works

The energy efficiency upgrades to the facility are designed to improve the longevity of the Oasis by replacing outdated equipment with state-of-the-art energy efficient systems, reducing operational and maintenance costs, and revitalising the ageing facility by addressing operational issues and the creation of a more usable facility.

The scope of works includes:

  • Upgrading the electrical mains, including a new transformer.
  • Establishing a new 400m² plant room / storage room with plant deck on roof to house new plant and new heating and chilled water distribution system.
  • Remediating the existing pool hall ventilation system to increase efficiency of the heat pump system and the active dehumidification system.
  • Capturing, filtering, and reintroduce the condensation from the heat reclaim coil and the active dehumidification cooling coil into the pools as water make up to reduce water consumption.
  • Rebalancing the existing perimeter ventilation grilles to provide uniform air distribution around the pool hall.
  • Upgrading the existing changing room ventilation system.
  • Upgrading the Building Management System (BMS) to allow automated control of the revamped HVAC (Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning) system.
  • Adding energy meters to the new heating and chilled water circuits, electrical meters and incorporate into the BMS for long term measure and verification of upgrades.

The energy efficiency upgrades to the facility are designed to improve the longevity of the Oasis by replacing outdated equipment with state-of-the-art energy efficient systems, reducing operational and maintenance costs, and revitalising the ageing facility by addressing operational issues and the creation of a more usable facility.

A long white building with signage for Oasis Aquatic Centre in the background and a road intersection in the foreground.
Air-conditioning and heating vent on top of a tiled half-wall, with a window to the right.
Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning on the wall, with a large sign for speedo to its left and a large sign for Zoggs on its right. The entrance ways to changerooms are underneath the vents.
An industrial gas water heater, with various sized pipes connected to the heater
A large blue water pipe in the foreground, with an industrial plant room in the background
A large white metal control box for a gas generator.
Two industrial sized green water filter tanks.
A large, orange Main Electrical switchboard inside a brick room.

Funding

This project is funded through a Federal Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water grant ($2.5 million), in partnership with Wagga Wagga City Council.

The Federal Government funding is via Round 1of the $100 million Community Energy Upgrades Fund, which aims to help local governments make their facilities more energy efficient, cut their emissions and reduce their energy bills.

Funding contributions are as follows:

  • Federal Government: $2.5 million
  • Wagga Wagga City Council: $5.85 million