Major upgrades to Parkinson Aquatic Centre have helped City Venue Management (CVM) win it the Jonas Leisure Facility of the Year Award at the Australian Leisure Facilities Association Queensland (ALFAQ) 2019 Awards.
Spantech constructed the aquatic and recreation centre 2016. Stage 1 opened with indoor and outdoor swimming pools, an aquatic rock climbing wall, family friendly changing facilities and an on-site café. Major upgrade works were completed by Spantech in early 2019 and opened to the public in March, adding a health club, group fitness room, spin room, outdoor wellness studio and creche.
The award was presented by Jonas Leisure Sales Manager Bryn Whales at the ALFAQ Awards Gala Dinner in Brisbane, with the facility beating fellow finalists Coolum Aquatic Centre on the Sunshine Coast and Tobruk Memorial Pool in Cairns to take out the award.
Whales said it was fantastic to be able to recognise the work of Parkinson and its facility manager City Venue Management (CVM), stating “Parkinson is a great example of how a modern aquatic facility should be set up. It’s an ideal case study for anyone looking to open a new or upgraded facility and a deserving winner.”
In the short time since Parkinson Aquatic Centre’s new facilities have been open to the public, they have already driven a large increase in visitors, he said. More than 260,000 people are estimated to have visited the facility in 2018/19, up from 194,000 the year before.
Further developments are planned by 2022, including a children’s water park, multi-purpose courts and multi-storey car park.
Whales also acknowledged Parkinson’s dedication to best practice, staff training and providing an excellent experience for its community. Its traineeship program for high school students had led to jobs for many participants and close collaboration between CVM and Royal Lifesaving Australia had helped ensure the facility surpassed all standards set out in the Guidelines for Safe Pool Operations.
Full story available at: www.ausleisure.com.au
