The Opportunity
Following a major redevelopment, Palm Beach Aquatic Centre reopened as a modern community facility serving swimmers, fitness users, families and local organizations across the southern Gold Coast. In addition to its existing 50-meter pool, the upgraded venue now includes a learn-to-swim pool, hydrotherapy pool, splash pad, gymnasium, group fitness studios, café, crèche and community gathering spaces.
With multiple activities taking place simultaneously throughout the facility, the City of Gold Coast required an audio solution capable of supporting clear communication, background music and localized announcements without disrupting adjacent areas. The system also needed to withstand the challenges of a high-traffic aquatic environment, including humidity, chlorine exposure and varying occupancy levels across indoor and outdoor spaces.
The Solution
The Prestige Group worked with MadisonAV to design and integrate a venue-wide JBL Professional audio system that expanded beyond the basic paging system originally specified for the project. The team implemented a multi-zone architecture supporting more than 40 independent audio zones, allowing staff to manage music and announcements according to the operational requirements of each area.
To meet the facility’s acoustic and environmental needs, the installation incorporates 12 JBL Professional CBT 70J column loudspeakers in large open areas where controlled coverage and speech intelligibility are critical. JBL Professional AWC82 all-weather loudspeakers were deployed throughout pool halls and other moisture-prone environments, while JBL Professional Control Series ceiling and surface-mount loudspeakers provide distributed coverage across fitness areas, studios and ancillary spaces.
The system was designed to support the varied activities taking place throughout the complex while providing localized audio control across indoor and outdoor zones. The combination of weather-resistant loudspeakers and distributed system architecture ensures reliable operation in demanding environmental conditions.
The Result
The JBL Professional installation provides Palm Beach Aquatic Centre with flexible, venue-wide audio coverage that supports daily operations across aquatic, fitness and community spaces. Staff can independently manage announcements and background music across more than 40 zones, allowing different activities to operate simultaneously without affecting neighboring areas.
The distributed system delivers consistent speech intelligibility and background audio throughout the facility while accommodating the environmental demands of pool halls and outdoor spaces. Since reopening, the centre has experienced strong community participation across its aquatic, fitness and recreational programs, with the audio system serving as an important tool for communication, programming and visitor engagement.
By implementing a flexible multi-zone JBL Professional solution, The Prestige Group and MadisonAV delivered an audio system that supports the centre’s current operational needs while providing the scalability required for future growth and evolving community programming.
