AusLeisure

The Erina Ice Arena on the NSW Central Coast has reopened after a 15-month refurbishment.

Closed in August 2019 for the removal of external cladding found to be a serious safety risk after the same cladding caused major fires in London and Melbourne in the last five years, the venue was reopened with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Saturday 2nd January.

With the operators lease terminated and amid initial fears that the ice skating facility would not reopen, building owners Lendlease undertook the urgent repairs during 2020. 

With a new lease holder now in place, the reopened facility held three sessions on the opening day, each one limited to 250 skaters due to COVID-19 restrcitions.

With each session was sold out, Erina Ice Arena’s new Business Manager, Christine Leghorn said she was excited about the reopening.

Leghorn told the Coast Community News “my family now owns the business, leasing the premises from Lendlease.

“My entire family background is in figure skating, both competing and teaching.

“My sister and I were competitors growing up and competed internationally as young adults.

“As teachers, we have taken groups of children overseas to compete as well.”

Leghorn said the walls of the rink had been completely removed and replaced to comply with safety and building regulations and some cosmetic changes had also been made.

She added “so many people have been looking forward to the reopening.

“Figure skaters have had to go elsewhere to train and (ice) hockey players have also been forced to find other venues.

“And, of course, all the local children just want to have fun on the ice.”

“We intend to grow the business and look forward to seeing what we can put in place and offer to the local community.”

Images: Christine Leghorn/Erina Ice Arena/Facebook.

Related Articles

1st November 2020 - Mariners to partner with Central Coast Sports College

11th September 2020 - Central Coast sporting facility upgrades promote active lifestyles

12th December 2019 - Bushfire fears leads to cancellation of NSW Central Coast festival

2nd September 2019 - New concert venue planed as part of NSW Central Coast entertainment and cultural precinct

5th July 2017 - Ice skating festivals rolled out across mainland state capitals

21st October 2016 - Uncertain future for Adelaide Ice Arena

7th December 2015 - Melbourne Docklands ice arena gets major renovation and new name

20th January 2012 - Mackay venue welcomes 20,000 ice skaters

19th November 2010 - Forget Leisure: Focus on the Experience Industry

---

Support our industry news service
We hope that you value the news that we publish so while you're here can we ask for your support?

As an independent publisher, we need reader support for our industry news gathering so ask that - if you don't already do so - you back us by subscribing to the printed Australasian Leisure Management magazine and/or our online news.