CONSTRUCTION has started on the old Footscray Pool site nearly three years after it was shut down to make way for the Maribyrnong Aquatic Centre.

The Buckley St building was demolished at the end of last year and will be replaced by a 120-bed Salvation Army run aged care facility.

The original Footscray Pool frontage has been retained for heritage reasons.

The underground car park is built and the slab has been laid for the building, which is expected to open in March 2010.

Maribyrnong City Council voted to sell the former pool site in 2005 despite more than 2000 objections from residents.

The Footscray Pool was built in 1929 and was once the second biggest swimming complex in Australia.

The Maribyrnong Aquatic Centre was built next to the Highpoint Shopping Centre.