New management at Sunshine Coast aquatic centres

Sunshine Coast Council has awarded contacts to manage its Kawana Aquatic Centre at Stockland Park and the Coolum-Peregian Aquatic Centre to local management companies, Multi-Level Sports Management Pty Ltd and Swim Fit Pty Ltd.

Founded on the Sunshine Coast, Swim Fit also manages four centres on the Sunshine Coast at Cotton Tree, Nambour, Coolum and Buderim as well as one centre at Nerang on the Gold Coast.

Welcoming the appointment of Swim Fit Sunshine Coast Division 9 Councillor Stephen Robinson acknowledged the important role aquatic facilities and services play in the lives of Sunshine Coast residents and visitors, stating "I am delighted to announce the successful managers are locally owned and operated Swim Fit Pty Ltd who has been chosen as they demonstrated a proven track record in aquatic programming and service delivery.

"Swimfit Pty Ltd has been professionally operating other council facilities on the Sunshine Coast (and) Council was impressed with their comprehensive business management plan which detailed a sustainable and achievable management structure for the Coolum-Peregian Aquatic Centre in addition to their other facilities.

"The community can only benefit from their vast industry experience and I invite them to drop by to meet the new management to learn of their exciting plans for the future."

Swim Fit Group Director Grant Belcher stated that the company was grateful for the opportunity to work within the local Coolum-Peregian community.

Belcher stated "we will live by our reputation of delivering exceptional customer service, similarly to what we as an organisation have been able to achieve at our other facilities across South East Queensland.

"Our vision is to ensure Coolum-Peregian Aquatic Centre provides world-class health, fitness and lifestyle experiences."

Commencing management of the Coolum-Peregian Aquatic Centre in recent weeks, Swim Fit have appointed Carl Gunn as Centre Manager.

With over 20 years experience in business management specifically in the health and fitness industry, Belcher added "Carl has held key business management roles in a number of international fitness based organisations and has also had previous experience in senior management roles within multiple aquatic and fitness centres throughout Australia.

"Carl is excited to join our Swim Fit family and is looking forward to working with the local community to provide exceptional service and a great range of programs that builds a strong local culture for members and visitors."

Owned by swim coach Shelly Douyere, Multi-Level Sports Management has been a long term leasee of Brisbane City Council's Yeronga Park Swimming Pool. Douyere has served on the committee of the highly successful Barracudas National Water Polo Team and has been a member of the Royal Life Saving Society Australian (Queensland) board.

With management of all facilities in the 45 hectare Stockland Park precinct, including the Kawana Aquatic Centre, the Western Fields, Lake Kawana and Stockland Stadium, being handed back to the Sunshine Coast Council from management company, Quad Park Corporation earlier this year, the Council has set about changing the way that it manages one of its major venues.

Tendering the management of the Kawana Aquatic Centre, the largest aquatic sport and recreation centre on the Sunshine Coast, has been part of that process and also fits with the Council's Sunshine Coast Aquatic Plan 2011/26.

A statement from Sunshine Coast Council announcing the appointment of Multi-Level Sports Management explained that the company had "demonstrated a proven and well respected industry track record spanning a 24 year period of professionally operating and activating a large public aquatic centre in Brisbane" and added that the company had "presented a comprehensive business management plan which detailed a sustainable and achievable management structure for the Kawana Aquatic Centre; displayed an impressive customer service ethos, as well as extensive community and facility marketing initiatives; demonstrated a willingness, including proven track record, to build strong relationships with local clubs and special needs groups; (and) demonstrated an extensive WHS policy in place which is based on key aquatic industry guidelines as published by the Royal Life Saving Society and Queensland Health.

During the recent winter months, both the 25 metre and dive pools at the Kawana Aquatic Centre have been upgraded with work including repainting and re-caulking the diving board concrete structure, starting blocks, lane lines and general tile repairs.

The three year contracts at each facility can be extended by the Council for a further two 12 month periods.

Images show the Kawana Aquatic Centre.

17th July 2013 - SUNSHINE COAST PURSUES SPORT TOURISM OPPORTUNITIES

8th March 2013 - SUNSHINE COAST COUNCIL CHANGES MANAGEMENT AT STOCKLAND PARK 

28th March 2011 - SUNSHINE COAST AGREES AQUATICS PLAN

20th October 2010 - SUNSHINE COAST COUNCIL PUBLISHES DRAFT AQUATICS STRATEGY