The Swimming Pool and Spa Association’s  (SPASA) annual Awards for Excellence are an opportunity for everyone involved in recreational aquatics to celebrate the achievements and talent of our industry. For Hydrilla (or State Wide Pool Services Australia as we were known then), the awards are a way to acknowledge and thank our team for their dedicated work throughout the year and to demonstrate how our work makes a significant impact for communities across the country.

In 2020 we elected to highlight two regional projects through the Commercial Renovation category and the newly created Community Projects category. Both of these projects were significant to their local communities in ensuring that their pools remained operational and sustainable. The Alan Coulter Recreation Centre Renovation Project was an extreme commercial rejuvenation for the pool in Renmark, South Australia. The existing pool had very limited entry and exits points with an outdated and dangerous disability winch the only option for anyone with physical limitations to enter and exit the water. Our on-site works centred around converting an old Spa section of the pool to stairs for increased accessibility to the pool, a challenging task, that saw the demolition of the old spa and new concrete steps formed and tiled to seamlessly blend in to match the existing waterline tiles. Space constraints prohibited the construction of a ramp, however, the finished stairs and handrails do provide much-improved access for users.

The Minnipa and Districts Swimming pool was in need of vital upgrades to ensure it’s ongoing viability and safety. The facility is important for supporting social inclusion, physical exercise and community belonging for the 177 people living in the town, 154 of whom hold membership for the facility. Funds for the project had been raised by the committee and council through grants and other avenues, and so our team used innovative ideas and community assistance to ensure the works could be completed to the budget set. The project required upgrading the existing gutter with a wet deck including replacement of all tiling to the sides of the pool and installing new grating and finger grip tiles.

The entire Hydrilla family were ecstatic that both these pools were selected Gold winners in South Australia, and even more so when both pools took out Gold on the National stage.

Our three remaining pools entered into the awards all achieved success, West Beach Parks resort Pool (main image) took out two gold in South Australia and a Highly commended at Nationals. Boandik Hydrotherapy Pool and West Franklin Apartments both achieved High Commendations in the competitive South Australian awards.

View all our 2020 entries

South Australian Awards Results

National Awards Results