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YMCA NSW has welcomed the extension of two facility management contracts by local councils this month, which will see the community not-for-profit organisation continue to operate two of its key Sydney sites.

The contracts to run the YMCA Bankstown City and Ku-ring-gai Fitness and Aquatic Centre (KFAC) have been extended by five years and two years by Canterbury-Bankstown Council and Ku-ring-gai Council respectively.

The YMCA will continue to run YMCA Bankstown City until 2021 and KFAC until 2018.

Commenting on the extensions, YMCA NSW Chief Executive Leisa Hart stated “we are delighted to be able to continue to serve the local communities of both YMCA Bankstown City and Ku-ring-gai Fitness and Aquatic Centre into the future.

“Offering a range of youth, family and other services, along with recreation and fitness classes, these two centres are a fantastic place for people to connect and enhance their health and wellbeing.

“We thank both Canterbury-Bankstown Council and Ku-ring-gai Council for their support and look forward to continuing to work with both councils for the ongoing benefit of the community.”

Ku-ring-gai Mayor Jennifer Anderson said the decision to extend the KFAC contract “underlined the positive contribution the YMCA is making to this major community asset and to the wellbeing of our residents.

“Since the Centre opened in 2014, the YMCA has introduced a range of initiatives such as swimming classes for people with disabilities, fitness classes for seniors and a healthy café menu.”

Ku-ring-gai Fitness and Aquatic Centre: 

• YMCA commenced operation of the Ku-ring-gai Fitness and Aquatic Centre in October 2014 
• From 600 foundation members, KFAC has grown to now have 1,700 fitness members. Of this membership base, 460 are PrYme members (people over 60 years of age) 
• In peak summer periods, almost 2,000 children are enrolled in swimming lessons 
• The Centre has raised $47,000 for disability initiatives through the YMCA’s national annual fundraiser, Swimathon. YMCA Brightside - a program for people struggling with a mental health issue – recently launched at the centre. 
• The Centre has formed strong relationships with Ku-ring-gai amateur swim club, local schools and other key community groups. 

 

YMCA Bankstown City: 

• The centre currently has over 1,000 gymnasts training there every week, ranging in age from 12 months to 16 years 
• Over 16 local primary and high schools participate in the the School PE program each year, including 7 specific disability classes 
• The centre has an adult and child disability program that connects people with a disability to the community through physical activities and recreation 
• The centre has a Special Olympics gymnastics team (boys and girls) with one gymnasts representing Australia at the 2016 World Down Syndrome Trisome Games earlier this year 

For more information about KFAC, visit www.ymcansw.org.au/centres/kfac

For more information about YMCA Bankstown City, visit www.ymcansw.org.au/centres 

For more information about YMCA NSW locations and programs, visit www.ymcansw.org.au 

Images: Ku-ring-gai Fitness and Aquatic Centre. Top image courtesy of Suters. 

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