Belgravia to manage Yorke Peninsula leisure centre

The Copper Coast Sport and Leisure Centre (CCSLC) committee has hired Belgravia Leisure to take over the running of the centre, in an attempt to make profit.
If the District Council of the Copper Coast (DCCC) decides it can underwrite the management fees, handover to Belgravia Leisure will be in mid-April.
The centre, in Kadina, was run by Ken Arthur for 22 years but has been under interim management since his retirement on 30th September last year.
CCSLC Committee Chairperson, Scott Newbold, said it is now up to the community to support the centre, stating âbe proud and appreciate the facilities, and use them�? adding âif the CCSLC isnât successful in the next few years we will have to look seriously at whether we can keep it open.�?
Explaining the reasons for the decision not to simply hire a replacement manager, Newbold explained, âfirstly, we didnât have anybody of necessary sporting centre management skills apply for the position.
âSecondly, we had our previous manager for 22 years and thought if we didnât try something different now, weâd never know.�?
Newbold added that a major reason for the change is the financial viability of the centre. Although a management company will more than likely require more money to run the centre than a regular managerâs salary, the CCSLC committee and DCCC hope it can turn the centreâs financial situation around.
âThe centre has been running at a loss for around 10 years, and has been propped up by council.
âWe were risking the doors closing, the accountant had put out warning signs.�?
Newbold explained that from four expressions of interest received by the committee, Belgravia Leisure was the clear standout and unanimously chosen as the preferred management company.
âBelgravia Leisure already manages many other similar centres and has turned around others that were running at a loss, such as the now-successful centre at Onkaparinga.�?
Belgravia Leisureâs Chief Executive, Adrian Johnston, gave a presentation at the February DCCC meeting, saying the centre âneeds new blood, to re-stimulate the community and business interest.
Johnston added, âwe are not just suits from the city â we are looking to engage the community.�?
One change will be to the CCSLC committee itself. Later this year, the committee plans to rewrite its constitution and disband, with a new committee to form comprising representatives from groups who use the centre and its facilities.