AusLeisure

The Ararat Rural City Council is moving to take on the management of the region's four swimming pools and fitness centres, ending the contract of current facility managers Unified Community Sports and Leisure (UCSL).

Committing to undertake extensive upgrades to the Ararat Fitness Centre and the Willaura and Lake Bolac swimming pools with ongoing savings it makes through bringing the services' management in-house, Council Chief Executive Dr Tim Harrison said he anticipated the savings to reach about $1.1 million during the first five-year period, beginning with the current financial year.

Advising that the upgrades to "important recreational infrastructure" in Ararat, Lake Bolac and Willaura would happen across the next 18 months, Dr Harrison told local newspaper The Ararat Advertiser "this will be achieved through a loan of up to $2.5 million, which would be serviced through the ongoing savings to council from ending the contract of current managers Unified Community Sports and Leisure and bringing service delivery in-house.

"Some of the funds will also be used to upgrade and repair ageing infrastructure at the Willaura Outdoor Memorial Pool and the Peter O'Rorke Lake Bolac Memorial Pool."

"UCSL manage both rural pools, plus the Ararat Fitness Centre and the Ararat Outdoor Olympic Pool."

The Council will also actively seek grants from Federal and Victorian Governments to further offset the cost of the projects.

The Council resolved in mid-August to end the UCSL contract 10 months early following a report identifying that significant savings could be made by bringing management in-house.

UCSL has held the contract to manage the four facilities since October 2015.

Dr Harrison confirmed all current staff at the facilities would have secure employment for at least three months after the Council took control of the services on 28th October.

Advising that the Council plans to work with key user groups and the broader community to redevelop the Ararat Fitness Centre facilities to improve accessibility and provide a more up-to-date environment, Dr Harrison added that draft plans for the fitness centre upgrade would be presented to stakeholders and centre users by the end of the year.

Image: Swimming pool at the soon-to-be-upgraded Ararat Fitness Centre.

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