Tenders have closed and been evaluated and the Policy and Resources Committee will present a report to Shoalhaven City Council next Tuesday with council expected to vote on the tender at its January 28 meeting.

Deputy Mayor John Wells said the new state-of-the-art pool would replace the existing seven-lane 50m pool shell and associated filtration equipment.

With a budget estimate of $8 million the new “mega pool” will include nine lanes, incorporating an international Olympic standard water polo facility and an aquatic water park including a splash pad.

“It really will be a mega pool,” Cr Wells said.

He said when the existing water slides were incorporated it would be a great recreational facility.

The project will also include the provision for pool heating, boosted by solar water heating.

Cr Wells said senior staff involved in the project had said there were a number competitive contractors interested in the project.

“I would expect a decision to be made this month and the allocation of a contract.

“I have been told that we won’t be disappointed with the price after a very competitive tendering process.

“I haven’t seen a construction schedule program but we would like to think it would be open sometime in the 2014-15 season.”

Cr Wells said with the Nowra Pool closed for the current season, residents could swim at Bomaderry or the Bay and Basin Leisure Centre at Vincentia, or even some of the village or sea pools.

“Through the Nowra Pool Advisory Committee we decided to close the pool for the current season to allow for some decommissioning and dismantling of the facility ahead of the establishment of a whole new complex,” Cr Wells said.

Behind the scenes there has already been plenty of work undertaken on the Nowra Pool site, with Aquatics manager Kevin Norwood saying salvage work on some of the equipment had already been done.

“Equipment has already been removed and taken off site,” he said.

“Some of the equipment will be recycled while some will be used at other facilities.”

The controllers, filtration and pumps have been removed, while the shade areas at both the southern and northern ends of the pool have been removed and are being repaired in preparation to be reinstalled once the work on the pool was complete.