It may have just undergone a multi-million dollar swimming pool revamp, but from September the operation of Blayney's CentrePoint Sports and Leisure Centre is set to be handballed onto the YMCA NSW (the Y) for a two- year period.
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The agreement will see the Y operating all aspects of CentrePoint including the pool, dry courts, scout hall and gymnasium.
The decision was made during Monday night's ordinary Blayney Shire Council meeting and came about as a result of council's Centrepoint Operational Review.
The review was made whilst the centre was closed and details the challenges of operating what councillor David Somervaille describes as "not being council's core business".
"We need specialised management for a specialised facility," he said.
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"The YMCA is an organisation that has 165 years of experience, is extraordinarily well regarded and operate 22 other similar centres around the state.
"Personally I'm very excited by the opportunity to outsource the management of this facility not only for the benefit of council but for the ratepayers as well."
Blayney mayor Scott Ferguson said that swimming pools are inherently expensive to operate and run at a loss, however the importance of the facility was too great to let it close.
"The reality is that for many years council has struggled to run it effectively and efficiently," he said.
"Ever since we built the centre in 2000 it's struggled. We've had our good years and bad years but we've never been able to run it and promote it as effectively as it needs to be run.
"I'm confident that the YMCA will be able to build the patronage and provide the services that our community expects."
Y NSW's area manager Shane Simmons said that staff currently employed at the centre will be encouraged to apply for any of the 15 new positions to be created.
"The roles will be advertised shortly and include centre coordinator, fitness instructors, customer service officers, lifeguards, birthday party hosts and more," he said.
Over coming months the Y NSW will be holding a number of community consultation meetings and Mr Simmons said he welcomes feedback from the local community.
"I'd like to encourage current members and the wider community of Blayney Shire to provide input into our upcoming consultation sessions as we work together to make CentrePoint a desired destination for all local residents," he said.
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Mark Logan
Started working in newspapers in the 1990's in the darkroom of the Pastoral Times in Deniliquin before moving to Millthorpe in 2003. Soon after arriving I started as a photographer at the CWD. Now a journalist at the Blayney Chronicle.
Started working in newspapers in the 1990's in the darkroom of the Pastoral Times in Deniliquin before moving to Millthorpe in 2003. Soon after arriving I started as a photographer at the CWD. Now a journalist at the Blayney Chronicle.
