Lord Mayor Frank Klingebiel: "I was very pleased that the federal government has continued its support for the renovation of municipal facilities in the areas of sport, youth and culture with a further call for project funding in coordination with the municipal umbrella organizations. In close consultation with Dr. André Berghegger, member of the Bundestag and deputy budget policy spokesman for the CDU/CSU parliamentary group, whom I know very well from his active time as former mayor of the town of Melle and former member of the executive committee of the Nds. With the special support of my constituency MP Victor Perli (Die Linke), who is also a member of the Budget Committee, and with the involvement of MP Roy Kühne (CDU), we were able to convince the Budget Committee of the German Bundestag of the necessity and importance of renovating the thermal brine pool in Salzgitter-Bad. Due to the very limited funding available nationwide in the second call for projects, this was a tough job of persuasion. In addition to the federal funding of around 1.9 million euros for the year-round outdoor pool in the Stadtbad in Salzgitter-Lebenstedt in the first call for project funding, the federal government is now also supporting the necessary refurbishment of the thermal brine wave pool in Salzgitter-Bad in the second call for project funding. Both pool projects are immensely important for our urban development, ensure a high quality of life for our citizens and have broad cross-party support in the Salzgitter City Council. I am very proud of this joint success and would like to thank the three members of the Bundestag, especially Dr. André Berghegger."
Why the refurbishment?
The thermal brine wave pool dates back to the 1970s and was renovated and converted in the 1990s. Following the modernization and renovation of the Stadtbad in Salzgitter-Lebenstedt, the Thermalsolewellenbad is now also to be modernized as a year-round pool in the south of the city. The ceiling in the indoor swimming pool and the entire changing area urgently need to be renovated. There is also a need for functional optimization in terms of the uses on site.
Current planning
The architectural firm Bremer + Bremer Architekten has prepared a feasibility study that includes a significant upgrade of the thermal brine wave pool through extensive modernization measures. The basic idea behind the project is a one-off construction measure that will not lead to permanent follow-up costs.
Lord Mayor Frank Klingebiel explains: "Following consultation in the Supervisory Board of Bäder, Sport und Freizeit Salzgitter GmbH, I will formulate the outstanding results of the feasibility study in a project resolution before the summer break and - following consultation in the Local Council South and in the relevant specialist committees - present them to the Council for consultation and a decision. This is ambitious and shows how important this project is to all of us. It is a matter close to my heart - like Salzgittersee in the north, the thermal brine wave pool in the south is of great importance to the city as a whole."
Ulrich Leidecker, Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Bäder, Sport und Freizeit GmbH, added: "It is important and good that this major project is supported by all parties and that the Council is backing it with a large majority. I particularly like the proposed changes to the construction of the entrance area with the central level, which allows a transparent view, as well as the improvement of the catering connections."
The key points of this feasibility study are:
- Significant upgrading of the entrance with a newly built central glass-dominated entrance and cash desk area.
- Clear structuring by separating the individual areas such as the catering and fitness areas.
- Complete new construction of the changing area and thus adaptation to modern usage requirements for all guests with changing cubicles, family changing rooms, shared changing rooms and changing rooms for the disabled
- Increasing the attractiveness of the bathing area by installing a textile sauna, infrared cabins and a graduation wall in the relaxation area
- Connection of the catering area to the entrance hall (for external guests) with attractive outdoor catering as well as for sauna and swimming pool guests Indoor and outdoor catering - indoor and outdoor swimming pool Catering - fitness
- Use of the foyer area freed up by the entrance hall extension to enlarge the fitness area
- Optimum accessibility with gender-separated disabled WCs with integrated changing rooms and showers
The total cost of the project is around eight million euros, with the necessary renovation of the ceiling and the conversion of the changing area together costing around 2.3 million euros. The promised federal funding of 2.1 million euros is available for this. Funds of around 5.3 million euros have been budgeted for the measures in the business plan of Bäder, Sport und Freizeit GmbH for 2021 and 2022.
What happens next?
First, the supervisory board of Bäder, Sport und Freizeit GmbH must discuss and approve the current plans. A project resolution will then be drawn up, which will be discussed in the South Local Council and the relevant specialist committees before being submitted to the Salzgitter City Council for a decision. According to current rough planning, construction will not begin until 2023 at the earliest. Construction will then take around one year. Completion is therefore currently expected in 2024 or 2025.