Council set to oversee services

Northern Grampians Shire Council will become the major provider of services at Stawell Leisure Complex following a complete review of the council’s leisure services.

Mayor Tony Driscoll said the council was examining the effectiveness and efficiency of all 42 of its services in an effort to create a more financially sustainable future for the shire.

Council officers presented a range of recommendations to councillors at this month’s council meeting.

Councillors voted for the council to provide a full health and wellness facility including gym and fitness services at Stawell Leisure Complex, in addition to operating and offering the existing aquatic program.

Cr Driscoll said this was the best outcome for the community.

“A range of options were presented to us as a part of the service review process, and council felt that this particular option was the correct choice for the entire community, both in terms of community needs and financial viability,” he said.

“Council felt that several other options presented to it as part of the service review process – including the complete closure of the SLC facility or operating the facility purely as a swimming pool – were simply not acceptable, and that this option best suited the needs of our community.

“We know that health and fitness are key to the ongoing livability of our shire, and we are pleased to be able to continue to offer gym and fitness services to the community.”

Under the newly-adopted recommendation, the council will transition to the new operating model.

The first step will be to liaise with the current providers, with a restructuring of the team resulting in an overall cost saving to the council.

Other factors that formed part of the leisure recommendation included: Reviewing organisational structure to reflect staffing needs to run the gym service; finalising business planning for Stawell Leisure Complex as an entire complex; providing monthly updates to the council through briefings during transition and business development stage; developing engagement and marketing strategies to attract and retain members and users; and reconsidering opening hours with a reduction in winter operating hours.