AusLeisure

The directors of the newly formed Otium Planning Group Pty Ltd - Sport + Leisure (OPG) have highlighted their involvement in a range of successful projects that have been awarded funding under the National Stronger Regions Fund (NSRF) Round Two allocations.

The projects were undertaken under the auspices of SGL Consulting Group and Strategic Leisure Group prior to the announcement of the two consultancies joining together to form the Otium Planning Group in October.

Led by Directors Mike King, Kate Maddock, David Mason and Martin Lambert, each of whom are recognised for their industry experience and achievements, OPG brings together a network of more than 15 staff, eight offices and specialist sub consultants in aquatic, facility and landscape design.

With experience from more than 1,400 aquatic, recreation, open space, sport and venue projects across Australia, New Zealand and Asia-Pacific, OPG is able to provide clients with unparalleled industry expertise and knowledge.

Operating from offices in Brisbane, Cairns, Darwin, Melbourne, Perth, Sydney, New Zealand and New Guinea, and with a new office set to open in Canberra OPG can offer a contemporary leisure consultancy service for Australia, New Zealand, Asia and the South Pacific.

OPG Director King said that the decision to form the new company was made to better offer leisure consulting services based around local understanding and backed by the knowledge and experience of a national company.

As King explains “this has been reinforced by the large number of projects across Australia that have received funding in NSRF Round Two that directors and staff of the company have assisted.”

This project funding builds off the funding success already achieved with five successful associated company projects funded in Round One of the NSRF.

In Round Two, a total of seven projects with feasibility studies and business plans completed by OPG’s former entities were funded, accounting for combined funding of $33.55 million, with these seven projects valued at a combined total project construction cost of over $100 million.

All projects funded will create significant economic and social impacts in their regional communities as well as stimulate active and healthy lifestyles and greater activity participation opportunities.

King believes that a really pleasing aspect of these successful projects has been their wide spread across regional Australia – ranging from $10 million towards the $23.7 million Tuggerah Regional Sporting and Recreation Complex in the rapidly developing Wyong Shire Council area to the $4.89 million funding for the $31 million Greater Bendigo Indoor Aquatic and Wellbeing Centre (which also received $15 million from the Victorian Government).

A list of projects funded in NSRF Round Two that directors and staff of Otium Planning Group have assisted included:

King also notes that the directors and staff of Otium Planning Group had also assisted a range of significant sport and leisure projects that did not receive funding in this round but which are have significant economic and social impacts that will feature in funding support in future rounds.

These included the following project applications:

• Holroyd City Council (NSW): Development of the Holroyd Regional Aquatic Wellness Centre – Stage One 
• Penrith Shire Council (NSW): Development of the South Creek Sports Hub
• Camden City Council (NSW): Narellan Sports Hub
• City of Greater Ballarat (Victoria): Ballarat Sports and Events Centre
• Shire of Yarra Ranges (Victoria): Warburton Mountain Bike Trail Network
• Shire of Nillumbik (Victoria): Eltham Leisure Centre Redevelopment ($6.3 million already funded from two successful Victorian Government funding applications).
• Baw Baw Shire (Victoria): Warragul Leisure Centre Redevelopment

Other projects worked on by OPG directors and staff that do not fit with NSRF criteria have been successful in securing alternative funding from a range of other sources.

As an example, OPG helped Willoughby City Council in securing $9.5 million in funding from the Federal Government for the Gore Hill Sporting Precinct and the City of Greater Bendigo and Nillumbik Councils gain grants totalling $21.3 million from the Victorian Government.

Otium Planning Group offers extensive funding support for sport and recreation projects that start at comprehensive feasibility and market research, detailed business plans and targeted economic and social impact reports. 

Click here to contact the Otium Planning Group via their entry in the Australasian Leisure Management Supplier Directory.

14th July 2015 - FUNDING SUCCESSES FROM SGL FEASIBILITY AND BUSINESS PLANNING STUDIES

6th May 2015 - GLADSTONE REGIONAL COUNCIL AQUATIC FACILITY MANAGEMENT OPPORTUNITY

1st May 2015 - SGL EXPANDS ITS SPORT AND RECREATION DEVELOPMENT SUPPORT SERVICES

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