Belgravia Leisure lands $2.84m deal to run Gympie region pools

What it will cost Gympie ratepayers to have the region’s public pools managed has finally been revealed, with some councillors ‘disappointed’ a local contract fell over.

Plans for local management of at least one of the Gympie region’s public pools have fallen over, with ratepayers now footing a multimillion-dollar bill for Belgravia Leisure to remain in charge.

Gympie Regional Council has agreed to pay $2.84 million over the next five years after handing the keys to the city’s state-of-the-art aquatic centre, plus the Goomeri, Kandanga and Tin Can Bay pools, back to the Victorian-based company.

Deep Blue Aquatics had been awarded management of the Kandanga Pool against council recommendation in August 2020, following an amended motion from councillor Bruce Devereaux.

The motion was passed by a seven-to-two vote; Dolly Jensen and Jess Milne voted against it.

Ms Milne had earlier moved to lay the matter on the table amid concerns about the final cost as the council would have to renegotiate Belgravia’s offer.

On Tuesday, January 18, Deep Blue Aquatics manager Elizabeth Manthey confirmed the Gympie business had declined the council’s offer but did not want to make any further comment as to why.

Mr Devereaux, speaking on his own behalf, said he was disappointed by the outcome, “but I’m sure (Deep Blue Aquatics) have their reasons”.

Despite 20 companies Australia-wide downloading the tender documents, Deep Blue Aquatics, Belgravia Leisure and the council were “the only responses we got”.

“I thought it was a good idea to give them a go,” Mr Devereaux said.

Councillor Bruce Devereaux said he was “disappointed” Deep Blue Aquatics declined the council’s offer to manage the Kandanga Pool after he made a motion for them to be offered the keys to the facility.

Regarding clarity concerns around the final cost to the ratepayer of the contract, which was not clear at the conclusion of the August 2021 meeting, Mr Devereaux said it was part of the ongoing transition from “a fairly closed organisation to trying to open things up a bit”.

Mary Valley councillor Bob Fredman said he had been “delighted” a Gympie company had tendered for management and “surprised and disappointed” it had fallen over.

“I hope Belgravia rises to the challenge and gives us great service at Kandanga,” Mr Fredman said.

The company’s management of the pools since taking over in 2016 has been controversial.

In 2017, it came under fire from civil rights leaders and caused a national media storm after it was revealed staff were checking guests private photos on their phones before they left the centre.

Staff were subsequently ordered to cease the practice.

Council sustainability director Adrian Burns said he looked “forward to continuing its productive working relationship with Belgravia and its team”.