Published on 14 September 2026
An impressive new feature is taking shape at Melton City Council’s new aquatic and leisure centre in Fraser Rise, with installation underway on the timber roof structure spanning the main pool hall.
Ten enormous glulam timber beams are being lifted into place to form the primary roof structure over the pool hall. Each beam is 32 metres long, weighs approximately eight tonnes and requires a 450-tonne crane to install.
Reaching this milestone has been around 12 months in the making, involving extensive design, engineering, fabrication and logistics to bring the structure together.
Design and procurement of the timber began in August 2025, followed by several months of design development, modelling, shop drawings and detailing, before fabrication and delivery to site.
Manufactured in Austria, the timber columns and purlins travelled to Melbourne across five shipping containers, while the enormous 32-metre rafter beams required specialist cargo shipping and four heavy haulage trucks to make the final journey to Fraser Rise.
Before the timber structure could be installed, significant work was also completed on site, including the installation of precast columns and structural steel. The timber columns, rafter beams and purlins are now being installed over a three-week period. The installation marks an important construction milestone and will create one of the defining architectural features of the new aquatic and leisure centre..
The use of glulam, or glued laminated timber, will bring the warmth and natural character of timber into the expansive main pool hall, while providing the structural strength required to span the space.
Construction will continue to take shape throughout September, with another timber structure to be installed above the program pool using a similar approach and 20-metre beams.
Thenew aquatic and leisure centre in Fraser Rise is expected to open in 2028.
Council is proud to deliver this project in partnership with the Australian Government. The project has received $15 million from the Australian Government’s Thriving Suburbs Program.
For project updates, visit New Aquatic and Leisure Centre.