Council set to advise of new management for Mission Beach Aquatic Centre

Unable to reopen its Mission Beach Aquatic Centre following the cessation of previous management arrangements, Cassowary Coast Regional Council is aiming to name a new facility operator following the closure of a tender this week.

While many other aquatic facilities across Queensland have commenced post-Coronavirus operation, the Mission Beach Aquatic Centre will be closed until at least 29th July – the earliest date at which a new operator will be named.

A report presented to the Council in May highlighted options for the procurement strategy and timeline to appoint a new management contractor for the operations of the centre. As a result, a tender management of the facility, seeking an “experience contractor” to undertake the work, was issued on 6th June and closed on 8th July.

The Council feared that a quick reopening of the facility could incur additional costs, with a spokesman advising “due to the short term and rushed nature of an unscheduled opening, a premium commercial rate would be highly likely and the financial burden on the ratepayer would be increased”.

The Cairns Post quoted Cassowary Coast Councillor Trudy Tschui as saying she believed everyone in the Council was working to reopen the centre as quickly as possible, commenting “we all understand the needs and wants of people in the region who use the facility, not just those who live in Mission Beach.”

Image: The Mission Beach Aquatic Centre remains closed while council seeks a new operator. Supplied.