The Y NSW named as new manager for four Port Macquarie Hastings Council aquatic centres

Port Macquarie Hastings Council has announced the Y NSW as its new ‘aquatic centre partner’, taking on the management of its four public swimming pools

Agreed at this week’s extraordinary Council meeting, the change follows a management tender process launched last year when the Council, in agreement with former contractor BlueFit, terminated the previous agreement for the management of the Port Macquarie Olympic Pool, Wauchope Memorial Olympic Pool, Kendall Community Pool and Laurieton Swimming Pool.

Explaining that working with the Y NSW was the ideal fit to take the management of Council’s aquatic centres forward, Port Macquarie-Hastings Council (PMHC) Group Manager Community, Lucilla Marshall stated “following a highly competitive tender process, Council is pleased to be able to welcome Y NSW on board as the new manager of our four aquatic centres at Port Macquarie, Wauchope, Laurieton and Kendall.

“With a proven track record of managing aquatic and leisure centres on the Mid-North Coast, Y NSW will play an integral role in furthering the development of our community which is well regarded as having a strong leisure and aquatic-based lifestyle.”

Emphasising the Y’s with strong local community values, which were important factors that influenced the decision to recruit them to Port Macquarie, Marshall added “Y NSW will formally commence operations on April 25, allowing us to work through a smooth transition plan that will see no material impact for existing BlueFit members and staff.

“We look forward to welcoming the Y team and say thank you to BlueFit for their two years of service to Council and the community.”

Noting that the organisation was thrilled to have been selected as Port Macquarie-Hastings' new aquatic partner, Y NSW Chief Executive, Susannah Le Bron stated “the Y is an organisation with over 150 years of history in delivering integrated community wellbeing, health and aquatic programming across the state.”

BlueFit has been managing the pools in Port Macquarie, Laurieton, Wauchope and Kendall since 2019, but the economic impacts of COVID-19, and the ramifications on the aquatic and recreation industry, resulted in council and BlueFit mutually agreeing to part ways from their agreement.

Council re-advertised for tenders at the end of 2021 with a view to awarding a new contract in March 2022.

Following the tender process, PMHC agreed to accept the tender from Y NSW for $4,275,659 for the operation and management of the four pools.

The Y will begin serving the Port Macquarie-Hastings community on Anzac Day, 25th April 2022.

Members and visitors will be welcomed to the Y at Port Macquarie Olympic Pool and Wauchope Memorial Olympic Pool from 1pm to 5pm on the public holiday (in keeping with Anzac Day trading hours). Regular opening hours will apply for the rest of the year.

Visitors at Kendall Community Pool and Laurieton Swimming Pool will see the Y NSW in action a little later, with the pools to close for the winter season, from 24th April 2022.

Advising that the Y NSW will work towards full hours and timetables for all classes and current fees and charges will also remain the same for the transition, Brooke Atkins, Executive Leader at the Y NSW added “we are here to deliver best in class aquatic services, but the important point of difference for the Y is that we live and work in accordance with our belief and we are committed to delivering a positive social impact in accordance with that belief.

“We believe in the power of inspired young people. So, when people come to a Y swimming pool for a dip, or take one of our classes, or buy something from one of our shops - anything above and beyond our cost to operate is reinvested in the continuous improvement of community facilities or contributes directly to life-changing youth programs like Uplift, Streetgym and Y Spaces.”

The Y NSW will also be introducing programs for people of all ages, people living with a disability, and for people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.

Images: The Port Macquarie Olympic Pool is one of four PMHC-owned swimming pools that will be managed by The Y NSW from 25th April (top) and Y NSW Chief Executive, Susannah Le Bron (below).