BlueFit to manage Brisbane's Centenary and Chermside Pools

Fast growing leisure contract managers BlueFit Leisure are to assume the management of Brisbane City Council's Centenary and Chermside Pools.

BlueFit is understood to be taking on the management of the facilities after long time managers Splash Leisure surrendered their leases.

Splash Leisure, a subsidiary of design, construction and property management group Stockwell, run by former swimming champion Mark Stockwell, previously held a 45 year lease for the management of the Chermside Pool and a 35-year lease for the heritage-listed Centenary Pools from the Brisbane City Council. The company formerly managed another four Brisbane Council facilities along with Amazons Aquatic Adventureland which closed circa 2002.

In 2008, The Brisbane Times reported that "the pools (have) proved business nightmares for Stockwell, clocking operating losses for the majority of their leases."

At that time, Mark Stockwell was reported as saying "when I negotiated those deals I had no idea one day that people would be paying for water, or that public liability would do what it did.

"I was naive in thinking I could make a sustainable business when the Council could subsidise all its other pools."

Brisbane Council reportedly granted Splash Leisure a five-year reprieve on water costs at the Centenary Pool and on maintenance, rent and water costs at the Chermside Pool, between 2002 and 2007.

A statement on the end of the leases is expected from Splash Leisure.

BlueFit Leisure manages aquatic and recreation facilities, fitness clubs, swim schools and golf facilities in Sydney and South East Queensland.

Since entering the market in 2007 when it took on the management of Sydney's Lane Cove Aquatic Centre, the BlueFit Group has grown to incorporate a range of brands, 30 facilities and services and now employs more than 650 staff who are, according their website "committed to inspiring community activity in a range of aquatic centres, health clubs, golf courses and other recreational facilities."

BlueFit is backed by the not for profit BlueFit Foundation which is committed to the supporting youth sport and recreation.

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