Yarra Leisure looks at streamlining its membership options

Following a survey of Yarra Leisure customers, Yarra City Council is proposing a series of changes to its membership offerings that would see some membership fees increase and some decrease, in line with the Competitive Neutrality requirements of Council’s Pricing Policy.

One of only a few councils in Melbourne to still offer a full suite of leisure services and facilities, including three pools, three gyms, group fitness classes and a golf course, last year the Council asked its patrons the type of access options that they wanted - with flexible membership options highlighted as a priority.

At the same time, Yarra Leisure conducted an extensive benchmarking exercise to review its leisure fees.

This review compared Yarra to similar venues and Council services across Melbourne.

If the proposed fee changes are adopted by Council as part of its 2022/23 Budget, Yarra would still offer some of the most comprehensive leisure services and venues in Melbourne, with prices sitting at the median price point.

Yarra’s full suite of services includes:

• Gym facilities

• Group exercise classes

• Aquatic centres, and

• Golf course access

In addition, Yarra City Council also offers the following community programs including Learn to Swim, programs for older people or people with a disability, and squad training programs.

The Council advise that it “remains committed to prioritising vulnerable communities and will maintain its 40% discount for concession card holders, in line with its Pricing Policy.”

Yarra Leisure emailed its members at the end of April to advise them of the proposed changes.

Launching its winter timetable for its facilities, Yarra Leisure advised as of the end of last month that “like so many other industries, we continue to be challenged by the global pandemic.

“Staff shortages and COVID-19 isolation requirements have meant that some changes to our timetable are sadly unavoidable.”

Image: Collingwood Leisure Centre. Credit: Yarra Leisure.