When Singleton Council voted to award the tender to manage their Gym & Swim to Belgravia Leisure at its April meeting the decision marked the end of the YMCA's nine year tenure at the facility.
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Many in the community voiced their concern about the future for existing staff and wanted to know who are Belgravia Leisure?
To answer some of these questions before they officially take-over on July 1 the company's area manager Northern NSW, Nicole Dunn spoke to the Singleton Argus about Belgravia and its plans for Singleton.
Founded by Melbourne based businessman Geoff Lord in 1990 Belgravia Group, a private company, that owns Belgravia Leisure, which manages 200 plus facilities nationally, in addition to Genesis Fitness Gyms (70 plus gyms), Novofit, Australian Sports Camps, Community Sports Camps, Belgravia Kids, Bizwear Corporate Clothing and Profile Corporate Clothing (NZ).
In the Hunter the company manages the three Port Stephens Council's aquatic centres at Lakeside, Tomaree and Tilligerry and has just been awarded a seven year extension of that management.
They also operate the Kurri Kurri Indoor Aquatic and Fitness Centre.
Ms Dunn said the company was looking forward to managing the Gym & Swim in what she described as a town that loves its sport.
"Our aim is to employ the best people to deliver affordability with quality," she said.
"We expect to keep around 90 per cent of the existing staff through the transition as they are invested in their community and connection is important to us."
Among the plans the new management are looking at includes growing participation in squash, basketball, gymnastics and netball at the Singleton Heights facility and introducing any new sports that the community would like to see such as table tennis.
"We are also looking at operating Out of School Hours Care (OOSH) at the Heights," said Ms Dunn. "Back at the Gym & Swim we would love to increase our membership of the gym and see what improvements could be made to encourage people to join. This may include installing new equipment."
Belgravia Leisure and Singleton Council are currently in negotiations for the company to manage Lake St Clair park.
Ms Dunn said the company had extensive experience managing holiday parks and were keen to have Lake St Clair come under their management.
The company operates the Belgravia Foundation which raises money to support local communities in which they operate. "We are proud of the Foundation's work byway of investing back in the community for example in Port Stephens we have been working on mental health projects thanks to financial assistance from the Foundation," she said.
Louise Nichols
From cattle to coal. Once a specialist agriculture writer today its about community, in particular, the Upper Hunter. I have lived and worked in the region for more than 30 years. Land use issues and the future direction of our region. But you cannot take ag out of the picture - our food and how we grow it is the basis of all life. Covering the Hunter and Mid North Coast rural issues is now part of my role with ACM.
From cattle to coal. Once a specialist agriculture writer today its about community, in particular, the Upper Hunter. I have lived and worked in the region for more than 30 years. Land use issues and the future direction of our region. But you cannot take ag out of the picture - our food and how we grow it is the basis of all life. Covering the Hunter and Mid North Coast rural issues is now part of my role with ACM.
