The reconstruction of the Příbram aquapark will cost more than 300 million CZK

Příbram - The planned reconstruction of the Příbram aquapark is expected to cost 301.2 million crowns excluding VAT. This follows from the revised proposal discussed by city councilors today. The originally proposed budget was higher, but the city leadership disagreed with it. The costly reconstruction was supposed to start this year, but it had to be postponed. The preparation of the project became complicated and the city returned the budget proposal to the documentation developer. The councilors today approved the completion of the implementation documentation in a variant that will include a 25-meter pool with three lanes.

"I would like us to realize that at this moment we are negotiating and will be voting only on the scope of the implementation documentation, we will not be voting on any loan or whether the aquapark will be built or not," warned councilors the mayor Jindřich Vařeka (ANO). He added that the implementation documentation should be ready by the end of August, realistically by the end of September. According to the mayor, a fundamental decision about the reconstruction of the aquapark should be made by the new council after the elections.

The original budget prepared by the company h-projekt estimated the cost at 330 million excluding VAT, including necessary repairs that are not directly related to the project. This includes the removal of the emergency state of the roof of the hall and the staircase to the hotel. The company then proposed changes that would reduce the total budget without limiting the original intention. The savings relate to limiting the glass wall from the fitness area to the pool hall or adjustments to the slides. After accounting for savings, the total price amounted to 295.5 million crowns excluding VAT. However, necessary repairs that were not originally planned increased the budget to 301.2 million crowns.

According to the developer, it could be reduced further. Although the relaxation and sauna area cannot be separated from the project, the sauna garden and outdoor wading pool can be built in later phases independently. The same applies to the swimming pool measuring three by 25 meters, which would, however, mean new design work. The councilors did not support this option. "The option to remove three swimming lanes is unacceptable to me," said councilor Petr Kareš from Chance for Příbram. The sauna garden alone is expected to cost 12 million, the outdoor wading pool 7.6 million, and the hall with the swimming pool 12.6 million crowns.

The main problem of the Příbram aquapark is the technology, which is up to 40 years old. The city wants to take a loan for the project, part of the costs could be covered by the expected increase in attendance. Councilor Petr Větrovský from the ČSSD criticized the city for wanting to borrow a quarter of a billion crowns for the project. According to him, the city should contribute more of its own money and not go into debt. "Let's do what we can afford," he added. "I consider it economic Waterloo," Vladimír Král from Chance for Příbram joined in.