A major structural milestone is taking shape at Melton City Council’s new Aquatic and Leisure Centre in Fraser Rise (interim name), with installation underway on the impressive glulam timber roof structure spanning the main pool hall.
Ten, 32-metre-long glulam timber rafter beams, each weighing approximately eight tonnes and measuring 1,800mm deep by 280mm wide, are being installed using a 450-tonne crane. Together, the beams complete the primary roof framing over the main pool hall.
The installation follows extensive enabling works, including precast columns and structural steel, required ahead of the timber columns, rafter beams and purlins being installed over a three-week period.
Reaching this stage has been around 12 months in the making. Design and procurement of the timber commenced in August 2025, followed by approximately three to four months of design development, three months of modelling, shop drawings and detailing, and a further five to six months for fabrication, freight forwarding and delivery to site.
The timber was manufactured in Austria and arrived in Melbourne in August. The timber columns and purlins were transported across five containers, while the 32-metre rafter beams arrived at port via MAFI cargo shipping before being transported directly to site on four heavy haulage trucks.
The installation brings together significant design, engineering, logistics and construction coordination and marks an important step in forming one of the defining architectural elements of the new aquatic and leisure centre.
A further timber structure will be installed over the program pool later in September, using a similar structural approach with 20-metre beams.
Melton City Council is delivering this project in partnership with the Australian Government. The project has received $15 million from the Australian Government’s Thriving Suburbs Program.
