Cockburn ARC welcomes back patrons after Coronavirus shutdown

With Western Australia having moved into Phase 3 of COVID- 19 restrictions and aquatic and recreation facilities now reopened across the state, Cockburn ARC is again welcoming members of the community through its turnstiles.

Closed from 20th March to 21st May, the multiple award-winning facility began its reopening under Phase 2 restrictions with a diminished capacity and limited services, while the most recent loosening of state restrictions allowed the facility to re-open in an expanded manner on Saturday.

Speaking to the Cockburn Gazette, Cockburn ARC Manager Brett McEwin said their re-opening had been a momentous day and seeing so many familiar faces had been a sight for sore eyes.

McEwin advised “the day that we closed the doors, we had all of our members exiting at the close of business that day, with all the staff around the front and saying thank you and bidding them fair well.

“Since we’ve opened, numerous members have come up to me and the smile on their face tells us a hundred words, they’re so happy to be back into a routine.”

The move into Phase 3 operations has seen the Cockburn ARC re-open its gym, crèche, spa, sauna, steam room and change rooms.

Patrons can once again utilise the stadium for casual basketball shooting and group fitness classes, while cycle classes are gain being offered.

In addition, the facility's 25 metre, 50 metre and warm water pools are once again able to be utilised for exercise and members will no longer need to book sessions at the pool.

While impacted financially over the last few months, McEwin said their primary focus was on their staff and customers, noting "we certainly haven’t focused on the monetary too much through the recovery, it’s more about supporting our people and our customer base and then focus on the recovery, with the overall aspiration of having the ARC thrive again."

McEwin praised his staff for their enthusiasm and their hard work to ensure the centre meets the government’s strict health and hygiene requirements for re-opening, going on to tell the Cockburn Gazette "we have around 360 staff overall and each stage that’s been announced from state government we’ve had to retrain, re-induct and support our team.

“It is a moving beast and changing; the first time we opened it was changing on an hourly basis.”

Since Monday, the facilities Swim ARCademy program has recommenced operations although restrictions will see a limit of 200 people inside the indoor and outdoor aquatic facility, only one parent/guardian being able to accompany each child and all spectators being required to practice physical distancing outside of the pool and follow the direction of the  staff at all times.

Some services at the facility still remain closed including junior sports clinics, learn to swim and water play pools, birthday parties, waterslides, 24/7 gym access and recreational swimming.

The ARC anticipates junior and senior sports and their PlayActive program for young children will recommence in Term 3.

Images: The Cockburn ARC from the air (top) and inside the facility's state-of-the-art fitness centre (below).