Sports minister Shona Robison has helped start work at the site of Dundee's new swimming pool.

In a Dundee City Council project costing nearly £31.5 million, the new leisure facility will include an adaptable 50m competition pool, a wave pool, rapid river, dive pool, flumes and a fitness suite.

The new pool and a multi-storey car park are due to be completed in September 2012.

Shona Robison was joined by Dundee City Council administration leader Cllr Ken Guild recently, and representatives of sportscotland and Mansell Construction Services to mark the start of the project

Funding of £3 million is being invested by sportscotland.

Minister for Public Health and Sport Shona Robison said: “Swimming in Scotland has been a huge success in recent years and we want to ensure that our swimmers are best equipped to build on this success, particularly in the build up to the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games.

“This facility will not only increase participation, it will improve performance and deliver a lasting legacy from the 2014 Games.

“I am delighted to see the beginning of work on this exciting project which will be a superb addition to leisure facilities in Dundee. A competition standard 50 metre pool as well as excellent family-orientated facilities will benefit swimmers in the city and across the north east of Scotland.”

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Cllr Guild said: "This is an exciting day for the city of Dundee and I am sure that everyone is looking forward to the completion of this impressive new complex.

"It will offer superb facilities for the public, with a state of the art competition pool and family facilities. This will be a centre that can be enjoyed by all ages and will have a wide appeal."

Cllr Guild added: "The start of work on this major project is also an important event for the local economy. A number of local sub-contractors are being used in the construction phase and that will give firms a boost during what are very difficult times."

Mike Roberts, Director of Sports Development, sportscotland, said: “sportscotland has worked closely with Dundee City Council to develop plans for a swimming pool complex to meet the needs of the city and the wider community for many years to come. We were delighted to support Dundee City Council’s vision and ambition with investment of £3million and it is very exciting to see the project starting to take shape.

“This swimming pool will play a vital part in Dundee’s drive towards urban and social regeneration. By combining community use with training and competition facilities, this will create a fantastic environment for discovering and developing young swimmers and for inspiring others to follow in their footsteps.”

Lindsay Cowan, Mansell’s Regional Director, added: "We are extremely pleased to be on site at East Marketgait, with work to construct the swimming pool complex now underway.

"This is a major, exciting development for the people of Dundee - and the wider Tayside community. We're delighted to be playing our part in the creation of this hugely impressive facility, not only will this project sustain jobs but it will also create new opportunities for the area."

(GK)