AusLeisure

The Gold Coast City Council has taken the decision to keep the management of the newly redeveloped Gold Coast Aquatic Centre - a venue for the 2018 Commonwealth Games - in house.

The Council, which this month took possession of the facility after a $41 million redevelopment has previously put the management of its other pools out to tender.

Gold Coast Councillor Dawn Crichlow told the Gold Coast Bulletin that the decision had been made to install the Council’s Community and Aquatic Facilities Manager Michael Brock as General Manager of the complex so it could keep control. “I am really pleased that we are not going out to tender."

Councillor Crichlow advised “I am over contractors from interstate coming in and running our pools.

“This facility is something to be proud of and I think we should hang on to it.”

Councillor Crichlow went on to say that she would like to go one step further and have the Council take control back of its other seven pools.

She asserted "it is often the case that the companies that tender for the pool contracts don’t end up running them.

“It is better council runs the facilities and can be sure about how they are operating.”

The Council has pools in Helensvale, Miami, Mudgeeraba, Nerang, Palm Beach, Upper Coomera and Woongoolba, as well as the Gold Coast Aquatic Centre in Southport.

In 2012, there were a number of objections raised when Melbourne-based Belgravia Leisure won the contract to manage the Palm Beach Aquatic Centre, previously managed by former Olympic medallist Michael Wenden for more than three decades. 

14th February 2014 - GOLD COAST AQUATIC CENTRE REACHES MILESTONE 

6th November 2013 - NEW MANAGEMENT AT SUNSHINE COAST AQUATIC CENTRES

21st June 2013 - WATPAC FINALISES $37 MILLION CONTRACT TO DELIVER GOLD COAST AQUATIC CENTRE 

22nd January 2013 - GOLD COAST 2018 DETAILS COMMONWEALTH GAMES VENUE PLANS

14th November 2012 - GOLD COAST AQUATIC CENTRE GETS GREEN LIGHT FOR PAN PACS

26th July 2012 - GOLD COAST CITY COUNCIL FINALLY AWARDS PALM BEACH OLYMPIC POOL LEASE TO BELGRAVIA LEISURE

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