Latrobe City Council announces YMCA Victoria as operator of new Gippsland Regional Aquatic Centre

Latrobe City Council has announced its acceptance of a tender from YMCA Victoria to operate the new Gippsland Regional Aquatic Centre (GRAC) now under construction in Traralgon.

With the YMCA having met the comprehensive requirements of the Council's competitive tender process, the organisations will now collaborate to provide industry leading programs that deliver improved recreation, health and wellbeing outcomes to the community while ensuring GRAC’s financial sustainability.

In addition to core operational duties at GRAC, the collaboration with YMCA will provide educational opportunities and significant social and economic benefits to the community, including employing local people, particularly youth, and purchasing goods and services locally wherever possible.

With the new facility expected to provide an estimated additional 100 or more operational jobs in Traralgon, the provision of a major recreational facility is not only expected to generate community benefits but will also attract  regional sporting events to enhance tourism opportunities in the wider Latrobe and Gippsland region.

In a statement on the contract win, the Council noted “the collaboration with YMCA has no impact on any current Latrobe Leisure staff. Latrobe Leisure will continue to manage and operate existing centres under its current scope of responsibility.”

Welcoming the contract award, YMCA Victoria Chief Executive, Carolyn Morris stated "we are so pleased to have been successful in our tender to operate Gippsland Regional Aquatic Centre, an exciting and innovative facility that will be a vibrant and inclusive community hub for fitness, aquatics and social connection. It will also create more local jobs, which is vital as we continue to recover from COVID."

Construction of the GRAC continues to advance in line with best practice guidelines to ensure the safety of workers during the COVID-19 pandemic with completion scheduled for early 2021.

Images: GRAC under construction, courtesy of YMCA Victoria.

Article amended 30th November 2020 to include quote from YMCA Victoria Chief Executive, Carolyn Morris.