Nillumbik Shire Council has made the decision to engage Aligned Leisure to operate the Shire’s five sport and recreation centres.
The facilities – Eltham Leisure Centre, Community Bank Stadium, Diamond Creek Outdoor Pool, Diamond Creek Community Centre and Diamond Valley Sports and Fitness Centre – are currently managed by three separate providers.
Aligned Leisure, a subsidiary company of the Richmond Football Club, is the current operator the Eltham Leisure Centre.
Mayor Karen Egan said Aligned Leisure was an outstanding leisure service provider and would provide excellent management of Council’s five centres.
Cr Egan said there would be no change to services for leisure centre members or visitors as a result of the appointment.
“It will be business as usual for members and visitors. We anticipate many benefits for centre members including reciprocal usage rights across the five centres.
“And the appointment of one operator to manage our five leisure centres will result in better connected services and cost savings for Council and our ratepayers.”
A comprehensive tender process was undertaken to award the management and operation of the five centres to a single provider from 1 July 2020.
The YMCA is the current operator of the Community Bank Stadium Diamond Creek, the Diamond Creek Community Centre and Diamond Creek Outdoor Pool. Clublinks is the operator of the Diamond Valley Sports and Fitness Centre.
Chief Executive Officer Carl Cowie thanked the YMCA and Clublinks for their excellent service to the community.
“We anticipate many of the staff will have the opportunity to transfer to the new service provider, limiting workplace disruption,” Mr Cowie said.
Aligned Leisure Chief Executive Officer Shane Dunne said: “We are delighted to continue our partnership with the Nillumbik community.
“Bringing all of the facilities together will provide our team with an enormous platform to connect Nillumbik residents to even greater health and wellbeing services than they ever could before.”
