Regional Aquatic and Leisure Centre

A clear pathway to sustainable
community infrastructure

Client: Mount Barker District Council and DesignInc SA

Location: Mount Barker, SA / Peramangk Country

The challenge

Mount Barker District Council set out to deliver the region’s largest ever infrastructure project — a $48M Aquatic and Leisure Centre designed to set a new benchmark in sustainability, energy performance, and community wellbeing.

For the Council, this wasn’t just about creating a modern facility. It was about ensuring operational costs stayed manageable over the long term while providing an inclusive, future-ready space for the fast-growing community. The project also had to prepare for further stages of development, including an outdoor 50m pool and an indoor sports centre.

Our Approach

From day one, Lucid immersed ourselves in the project vision — translating ambitious sustainability goals into a practical roadmap. We collaborated closely with the Council, DesignInc, and project stakeholders to identify the highest-value opportunities within budget.

Our team combined detailed engineering analysis with human-centred design thinking to address four key impact areas: emissions, energy, water, and materials. We also ensured the design could scale smoothly to accommodate future expansions.

Solutions delivered

Lucid’s scope covered the full lifecycle of building services, aquatic heating, energy and sustainability strategy, and fire engineering.

Key solutions included:

All-Electric Design – Eliminating reliance on gas to reduce scope 1 emissions and position the facility for a net-zero future.
High-Efficiency Thermal Systems – Implementing heat pump technology and heat recovery for pools and air handling, delivering long-term energy and operational savings.
350kW Solar PV System – Generating clean power onsite to offset energy costs and lower carbon emissions.
Enhanced Envelope Performance – Improving airtightness and minimising thermal bridging to conserve energy and avoid condensation risks.
Integrated Water Management – Rainwater capture for pool top-up, and wastewater recycling for toilet flushing.
Fire Engineering Strategy – Designing a compliant, practical fire safety approach tailored to the unique hazards of an aquatic facility.
Future-Proofed Infrastructure – Developing staged services and utilities planning to support subsequent project phases.

Delivered under a Novated Design and Construct model, Lucid completed 80% of the scoping and pricing documentation and worked in partnership with the head contractor Kennett to finalise the design.

Case Study -Mt Barker Summit Aquatic Centre - 01

Outcomes

The project was completed and ready for spring 2025 and delivered:

A high-performance facility optimised for lower running costs and emissions.
A clear, measurable sustainability framework to guide operations and future upgrades.
A resilient, future-ready infrastructure base to support further development without rework.
An inclusive community space that raises the bar for regional aquatic centres in South Australia.

Post-occupancy monitoring will provide data for continuous improvement and insights to inform the Council’s future investments.

Better World Impact

This project proves that sustainable design doesn’t have to be a compromise. By making clear, practical choices — from all-electric systems to water recycling — the new centre will deliver tangible benefits: lower emissions, reduced running costs, and a healthier environment for the community.

It’s a clear example of how purposeful engineering can create places that work better for people and the planet.

Ready to reach out? Let’s chat.