Goulburn Aquatic and Leisure Centre attracts 'encouraging' patron numbers in first month

The newly opened Goulburn Aquatic and Leisure Centre has attracted “strong numbers” in its first month of operation but Goulburn Mulwaree Council is advising that the redeveloped $29.8 million facility needs more patronage.

Welcoming an 500 people on average through the doors daily, Goulburn Mulwaree Council acting General Manager Matt O'Rourke says that while the facility is not aimed at making a profit, it needs "a few more" people to meet operational targets set in the facility’s business case.

As reported by the Goulburn Post, the latest meeting of the Goulburn Mulwaree Council heard that that about 1000 people visited the Centre on its opening weekend, 30th April to 1st May.

Commenting on the facility’s subsequent performance, O'Rourke commented "the initial few weeks have been very encouraging and the numbers have been high compared to the old centre. Five hundred people a day is not uncommon.”

Under questioning during the Council meeting on what numbers were needed for the facility to be "self supporting," O'Rourke said a business case several years ago estimated 220,000 annual visitations would be required - more than double the number of visits to the Centre before its upgrade.

Image: Goulburn Aquatic and Leisure Centre. Credit: Goulburn Mulwaree Council.