YMCA-managed Fleurieu Aquatic Centre recognised for excellence in community recreation

YMCA South Australia at the Fleurieu Aquatic Centre has been recognised as a leader in community recreation excellence, winning the South Australia Parks and Leisure Association (PLA) award for Best Region/Rural Contribution.

The PLA award acknowledged that YMCA SA had created a positive social, environmental and economic impact from a range of community based programs and initiatives, making a significant contribution to the local and regional community over the past 12 months.

Advising that the award is fitting recognition for the dedication and effort of the locally based staff team since the Centre opened under YMCA management in March 2017, YMCA Regional Development Manager (Southern), James Lomax stated "Fleurieu Aquatic Centre has become a community hub and a great example of how regional aquatic centres can engage with, and positively impact, the local regional community.

“Gaining traction across communities spanning two Local Government Areas was a challenge at the start, however innovative marketing and communication strategies have seen participation grow to new levels over the last 12 months.”

Highlights of Fleurieu Aquatic Centre’s innovations included:

• Implementation of Strength for Life aqua classes (YMCA is the largest provider of Strength for Life gym programs in regional South Australia) 
• Free hearing tests for members in partnership with Hearing Australia 
• Partnering with the Continence Foundation to deliver community workshops 
• Partnering with SAPOL to deliver Blue Light pool parties 
• Implementation of Salti-board work outs to engage a new community segment 
• Implementation of a new Mega Splash inflatable to engage youth 
• Successful accreditation with Fitness Australia 
• Working with local community transport providers to ensure timetabling provided the maximum access to programs and services at the Centre
• Partnership with local Exercise Physiologists and Physiotherapists to provide services to a broad range of community members 
• First regional facility in SA to offer a social water polo competition

Lomax explained the attendance at the Centre had risen consistently year on year and was just under 108,000 in 2019/20 - an 8% rise on the previous 12 months. Health and fitness memberships peaked at 1,316, a rise of 12%, while swim lessons participants also recorded a rise, peaking at 530.

He added "we have an average of nearly 20,000 visits per month and that has a huge positive benefit on the local rural and regional population. We are continuing to develop new engagement activities aimed at increasing facility usage and engagement across all community segments."

The Centre will now receive an automatic nomination for the national PLA award, which will be presented at a function in late October.

The YMCA South Australia-managed Parks Recreation and Sports Centre was also a finalist in the Community Facility of the Year category. 

YMCA SA manage the $20 million facility in partnership with the Fleurieu Regional Aquatic Centre Authority, a joint initiative of the Alexandrina Council and the City of Victor Harbor.

Images: The Fleurieu Aquatic Centre's entrance (top) and water playground (middle) and the facility's PLA state award for best region/rural contribution (below).