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Council Decides on Sustainable Approach to Recreation Services

Published Date: 18 December 2008, 12:00 AM

The City of Melville is to discuss management of the Leeming Recreation Centre with the Department for Education and Training (DET) in response to declining attendances and under-utilisation by the City’s ratepayers.

Melville Council voted at its meeting on Tuesday, 16 December to take a course of action that would include transferring management of the City-provided recreational programs at Leeming and enhancing the facilities at the central Melville Aquatic Fitness Centre (MAFC).

Mayor Russell Aubrey said it was disappointing that the cost blew out on the $8.1 million planned upgrade for the centre and hence the upgrade was no longer a viable option. “However, users have shown no desire to pay up to $1200p.a. for membership and ratepayers cannot afford an excessive increase in their rates. In the interests of financial rationalisation, negotiations with the DET to take greater financial responsibility provides the only option for affordable access and ongoing operation of the centre,” he said.

Mayor Aubrey said he had wanted to work towards saving the centre and from a community perspective it had been ‘saved’. “There is currently a big educational component, with Leeming Senior High School regularly using significant areas of the centre, and it will remain available for school use and occasional community use. This Council decision opens the door for other opportunities, including community access to parts of the building for specific purposes. I welcome ideas from the community regarding community-specific options which I can put forward to the DET in the transition process,” he said.

“The major burden of costs in relation to the centre has fallen on Melville ratepayers and this change of model is an attempt to avoid significant rate increases in the future and to provide non-users a significant saving. The City has a responsibility to ensure that ratepayer funds are used in the best manner to benefit residents,” he said.

Chief Executive Officer Dr Shayne Silcox said the centre had filled a gap for some 20 years but the marketplace and the area’s demographics had changed considerably since it was established. “Various competing facilities have been established by other local governments and the private industry, and it is not our role to compete for the same market,” he said. “Through working in partnership with these other providers, all the needs of the community can be met. Currently less than 55 per cent of users at the centre are residents of the City. Since 2000, there has been a reduction of more than 50 per cent in attendances, and a corresponding increase in operational deficit of more than $950,000. This demonstrates it is no longer viable to run this facility and funds would be better spent transferred to the provision of other products and services that meet the needs and the demand of the community.”

“As sound business managers, we are focusing on making improvements to Melville Aquatic Fitness Centre and investigating localised physical activity initiatives, such as water spray parks, rather than running a centre that is no longer viable. The City is moving towards a different model with a central, high-quality indoor recreation hub. The premium location of Melville Aquatic Fitness Centre means it can cater for all residents.”

“We have also provided more indoor recreation centres to the community than other local governments, including those nearly twice the City of Melville’s size. This is illustrated by the unsustainable nature of the centre. The City will continue monitoring where to direct its resources to meet community needs, which alter with time,” he said.

“As we have stated previously most if not all of the valued Leeming Recreation Centre staff will be accommodated at other recreation centres or elsewhere within the organisation,” he said.

Leeming Recreation Centre

Posted by Alan McLeod at 14 January 2009, 02:47 PM
Go to www.saveleemingrec.com to get community reaction and updates.
Read the Council’s latest budget papers on their website to get financial details on Rec Centres. Maybe the CEO can explain why Leeming Rec Centre is lumbered with $ 239,176 “Internal Allocations” (Corporate Overheads?). Is Leeming getting $239,176 value from management given the way patronage has been allowed to drop off without any apparent attempts to correct the situation? It is also interesting that private gyms, who in all but one case charge less the Council Rec Centres, can still make a profit. Other Council’s Rec Centres also charge less and are being developed not run down.
Council must revisit this decision.

Leeming Recreation Centre

Posted by Vanessa Jokovich at 15 January 2009, 07:38 AM
To quote Chief Executive Officer Dr Shayne Silcox “The major burden of costs in relation to the centre has fallen on Melville ratepayers and this change of model is an attempt to avoid significant rate increases in the future and to provide non-users a significant saving. The City has a responsibility to ensure that ratepayer funds are used in the best manner to benefit residents,” Published Date: 18 December 2008, 12:00 AM

I cannot believe that this is presented as a reason for not upgrading the centre. There are many facilities within the City's boundary that are not a benefit to all residents yet still require development, management and upkeep. City of Melville has Swan River foreshore areas that require funds for upkeep, yet some residents live away from these areas and rarely visit them. Are these residents considered "NON USERS" and thus due "SIGNIFICANT SAVINGS"?? We live in the City of Melville and are entitled to have our existing services maintained for use.

I challenge the Council to provide information that would enable a review of exactly what facilities/courses have been removed from LRC since the year 2000 which is the year that is quoted by Chief Executive Officer Dr Shayne Silcox as follows "Since 2000, there has been a reduction of more than 50 per cent in attendances, and a corresponding increase in operational deficit of more than $950,000. This demonstrates it is no longer viable to run this facility and funds would be better spent transferred to the provision of other products and services that meet the needs and the demand of the community.” Dr Silcox, can you please provide this information?

Leeming Recreation Centre

Posted by Ted Rowley at 15 January 2009, 02:02 PM
Nine years ago LRC was voted No.1 Recreation Centre in AUSTRALIA for Innovation and was presented with their award in Canberra. Shortly before LRC won three state awards, two for Management. CEO Dr Silcox is quoted in the Melville Times as saying the 50% drop in attendances over the last 8 years is due the vast increase in competition in the area. Nothing could be further than the truth. A survey of those people that left and present members will tell you why the membership has dropped. In the last 8 years LRC has lost the brilliant services of senior staff such as Toni Anne, Bev and William, all very popular,enthusiastic and very efficient, they should have been encouraged to stay. Senior Management has changed. In recent years, a mass exodus of members took place because of Managements decision to abandon "options" in favour of "Multi Memberships" ,in many cases a doubling of fees, a move that forced members to look elswhere. This was followed by several conflicting Notices to members over many months re "Closing LRC for rennovations" , again resulting in not only the members but large sporting groups such as Netball looking and going elswhere. Management forced very unpopular and unnecessary restrictions on creche enrolments, many mothers looked around and went elswhere. Last year the pool closed mid winter , a decision made not to reopen as did the canteen , more departures. The final nail in the coffin by Management was to announce, (prior to Councils Dec 16th meeting ) ,the permanent closure of Creche before Xmas , already resulting in mothers cancelling their memberships.
The many E mails to Saveleemingrec website have one thing in common, blaming mismanagement and lack of cleaning/maintenance, particularly the showers and toilets. How many awards has the present management team received? Enough said.

Leeming Recreation Centre

Posted by keith Slipper at 16 January 2009, 07:29 AM
The announced closure of LRC as a Melville community facility was a great disappointment considering that only 18 months a go,the proposed upgate of the centre was approved by both council and the community. How things change under different council management! The announce closure of the centre for a year while an upgrade took place naturally encouraged people to look for other temporary options and this together with running down the centre and services has resulted in decreased patronage. With the correct management plan, the new Fiona Stanley hospital and the accomodation associated with it, the centres patronage number would increase. Recreation centre are used by a diverse group of people for their physical and social well being, lets keep it that way. I urge the council and staff to explore all possible alternatives to keep the LRC for the community.
Thankyou.

Leeming Rec Centre

Posted by Mark Rayfield at 19 January 2009, 01:47 PM
I've a Melville resident and have played squash at the centre for 10 years. These are now some of the few remaining courts south of the river with pay as you go access, most of those courts in private hands having been sold for housing development as they were rezoned (by councils) for residential use. I don't want to go to Belmont or Hilton or the city to play in future. One of the things I liked about Melville initially was that it provided real amenities to go hand in hand with housing developments. My kids watched the Wiggles perform at LRC, my wife attended her first Melbourne cup lunch at the centre, my kids learnt to swim and had all their early birthday parties in the old pool which was always more relaxed and fun to visit than MAFC. The squash players used to be amazed by the literally hundreds of people who turned up for Tae Bo and covered the whole indoor area on a Tuesday evening, and the gym was open very late as well catering for those working unfavourable hours. All of these things happened in the late 90's and early naughties when the place had energy, not many of them happen now. My kids are starting swimming lessons this week at All Saints as MAFC is too crowded to fit them in...they are not prepared to commit to more than one session a week which seems a touch elitist to me.

For probably five years or more the LRC has been deliberately allowed to wither on the vine, paralysis by analysis. In no particular order ... the gas crisis, building regulatinos, the resources boom, resouces bust, the credit crisis, investing in the wrong type of toxic debt or was it the other way round. It's still potentially a great facility but it needs some certainty and some TLC, is there a public pool in Perth that is commercially viable near the end of its design life cycle? Suck it up my council and invest in the future, getting DET to take on the burden (& locking the residents out) is copping out on providing a service to the community. Why not do the thing properly and have a low carbon footprint public space, use the pool to heart and cool the place and the high school.

Leeming Swimming Pool

Posted by David Nelson at 16 February 2009, 07:46 AM
I am disgused to hear the Leeming Pool has closed, my children all learnt to swim there, and I use to like going there for a casual swim. THE LEEMING SWIM COMPLEX SHOULD BE EXPANDED NOT CLOSED DOWN, this whole thing SMELLS. I have been to the Melville Pool four times in the last few weeks at different times, and having paid the full cost of entry, go inside and find it like the Hay Street Mall at lunch time with swimming lessons every where. Yes there are one or two lanes for swimming laps, but that is not what I want to do, so I feel I have wasted my money on each occasion. The Gym fees are expensive, and I find there are no options on annual membership, without buying stuff I would never use. HOW ABOUT SOME COMMON SENSE HERE...... I am now making a point of not voting for any councillor or Mayir who has supported the idea of closing the Leeming Pool.

Leeming Recreation Centre

Posted by Anne Mackin at 23 February 2009, 07:17 AM
I find it unbelieveable that this reccreation centre has been run down by the Melville Shire. They say it is not paying, how odd, as it has been have deliberately run down. Swimming and child minding facilities for young mothers to come and use the facilities just to name a few.It is not a pleasant place to come anymore. I think that it should re-vitalised in all the activities also thought and planning be given to having youth club facilities for our young people to come and met each other rather than to hang about in the streets. Take leaf out of U.S.A. and Britain and other countries as we seem to do for other decisions. As ratepayers we require to realise once it has gone it will not be brought back. Our nearest ones will be High Rd. and Canning Hwy. and Beelier a long walk for those who don't or can't drive. It's a disgrace!
Anne Mackin

Aquatic Classes

Posted by Sue Reid at 03 March 2009, 07:45 AM
One of the main reasons this complex has lost customers is the lack of encouragement of the management staff. I have been attending aquatic classes for the more mature ladies for a long time and we have had to fight to keep classes open during the day. Some of us can't make the early morning classes. I first attended Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays and it was gradually cut back by a day at a time until it was going to be cut off completely. We fought to get the classes going again knowing that the pool would be closing for renovations. Some of the ladies now don't do any exercise and others have dispersed to other pools that they are not happy with. The excuse for cutting down classes was that Leeming couldn't get teachers for classes. This we found to be untrue as we dug around and found people willing to help. It is obvious that the classes would be smaller in winter but was still a viable class. What the Council needs to do is have an advertising blitz that aqua classes are starting again and I think you will be surprised at the amount of people who will attend. Why would people pay out for use if it is closed down. I was told that the management was more interested in floor aerobics and was trying to force the aquatic side to close to make room for the other. This was rather obvious with the new extensions. Don't you ask yourself how come other centres are successful and Leeming isn't? It had been an uphill battle for us to keep the aquatic classes going. Without these classes, some older ladies will stay at home and not get the exercise needed. This is a negative attitude as we advertise how we are helping the more mature people. If you do ever open the pool (please) then it will be a slow recovery time but you would have to let people know that it is happening. Some of the ladies would travel up from Rockingham as this became a very social group. Sorry about the ranting and raving but this is one exercise programme and social event that has been taken out of my life. I see the solution as employing people who want to make that centre work. People who look after their staff, the centre and the people who attend. The "wrong" people were in charge and weren't actively trying to make the Centre work.