NEW MULTI-MILLION RAND AQUATIC PARK PLANNED FOR PIETERMARTIZBURG
The city of Pietermaritzburg is set to play host to a first-of-its-kind aquatic centre in South Africa.
The R170-million facility will be constructed in phases on the grounds of St Charles College. The first two phases are set to be completed in November 2025.
The school’s principal, Allen van Blerk, said the new swimming facility would include a Myrtha pool. This type of pool is hailed as the best in the industry and is used in the Olympics as well as the World Aquatics Championships.
The pool will measure 52.5 metres in length and is currently being manufactured in Milan, Italy. Thanks to the 2.5-meter bulkhead, the pool can transform into a single 50-metre Olympic-standard pool or two 25-metre competition pools. This means that between the larger individual pool and the two smaller pools both short-course and long-course championships can be hosted.
Add to that the fact that the pool can also be converted into two water polo pools or an international standard water polo field.
Other amenities include a temperature-controlled 50-meter pool with a bulkhead, two learn-to-swim pools (one outdoor and one indoor), as well as a 25-metre by 25-metre warm-up pool.
There will also be a gym and a restaurant.
Image credit: The Witness