Management plan for leisure centre

Gosford Council officers have recommended a "management framework" for the Peninsula Leisure Centre, which is expected to open in October.

The proposal will be considered by Council tomorrow night (Tuesday).

The framework includes an organisational structure, staffing positions, recommended operational budgets and marketing strategies, and is based on a business plan prepared by Stratcorp Consulting in September 2002.

The report recommends that implementation of the framework should start immediately.

This would include recruitment of staff, development of program schedules, the adoption of fees and charges schedules, the preparation of marketing programs, the development of maintenance programs as well as planning for the opening celebrations.

The report stated it would be necessary to liaise with the five resident sporting groups on programming issues, to enter into supplier agreements, prepare policies, procedures manuals and training programs;

The business plan considered the factors impacting on the financial performance of the centre and developed three scenarios for the first 10 years of operation.

Each scenario assumed the immediate and long-term uptake usage of the facilities would be lower, similar or higher than that experienced when comparable to other facilities.

Each scenario also included an allocation of $700,000 for a major refurbishment of the centre after seven years.

For the purpose of planning for operations at the centre, officers assumed a scenario where uptake of the facility was slightly lower than other comparable facilities.

The report stated that it was anticipated that operations for the coming financial year will result in a neutral financial outcome with no net cost to council from operations.

However, an allocation of $195,000 had been included in the next draft recurrent budget which was adopted by council at its meeting on April 5, to provide for "one-off" commissioning costs of the new centre.

The business plan includes a schedule of opening hours for the various areas of the facility.

The centre will employ 50 staff, full-time, part-time or casual, including positions carried over from the old Woy Woy pool.

In setting fees and charges, the business plan provides a number of different membership and regular user passes, offering savings on single casual entry.

Concessions will be available for aquatics, for health and fitness and for both areas.

Concessions will be available for children 13 and under, for pensioners, families and school groups.

Swim school charges include pool entry and are based on a per school term structure.

Council officers have recommended that the schedule of fees and charges be adopted for the year coming financial year and be placed on public exhibition.

Their report recommends that a briefing be given to the Council's Consultative Committee on the organisational structure, specific positions and recruitment process.

Officers would then liaise with Council's Organisation Development Unit on the timely appointment of staff.

There are five sporting clubs that will operate from the centre, including the Amateur Swimming Club, Pelicans Swimming Club, Water Polo Club, Woy Woy Basketball Association and Woy Woy Netball Association

Regular meetings are being held with representatives of these clubs about involvement in the opening celebrations and schedules for the centre's use.

It has also been recommended that council be provided with a monthly report on the financial performance of the new centre.

The centre includes three pools (leisure, program and 50m), reception areas, kiosk, creche, children's party room, retail outlet, gymnasium and aerobics areas and indoor basketball and netball courts.

The proposed fees and charges schedule and the staffing structure can be found in council's May 3 agenda at www.gosford.nsw.gov.au.

Council agenda SF.16, May 3