Bernie Mullane Complex members fired up as management cuts opening hours, axes creche
MEMBERS using the Bernie Mullane Sports Complex are up in arms over management plans to close its creche, cut opening timings and cancel some of the fitness classes from May 1.
Rouse Hill
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MEMBERS using the Bernie Mullane Sports Complex are up in arms over management plans to close its creche, cut opening timings and cancel some of the fitness classes from May 1.
The more than 200 members claim that Belgravia Leisure, who run the complex on behalf of Hills Shire Council, have not done anything to improve the facilities despite complaints and the place is being run to the ground.
“For the past decade we have put up with Belgravia’s lazy and incompetent management of the site and their empty promises about improving the quality and range of services on offer,” members spokeswoman Sonya Rosier said.
Hills Shire deputy Mayor Robyn Preston told the Rouse Hill Times they had no choice but to cut the opening hours and close the creche as they were losing “a substantial amount of money” over the years.
“The members have raised very valid issues and deserve better equipment and conditions,” Clr Preston said.
“The numbers at the creche were too low and staffing high while there was no demand for the earlier timings for the complex.
“We deserve a better asset for the community and council is working on a better business model for Bernie Mullane Complex and the Waves swimming centre at Baulkham Hills.”
Belgravia operates the Baulkham Hills Memorial Swimming Pool Complex (Waves), the Bernie Mullane netball courts and the Bernie Mullane Indoor Sports facility under licence.
In a statement to the members, Belgravia said it will be reducing the hours the complex will be open, from 10am-10pm, Monday to Friday, and 9am-2.30pm on weekends.
Currently the complex is open from 6am-10pm on weekends, 7am-9pm Saturdays and 8am-8pm Sundays.
The council said members of the Waves pool and Burnie Mullane Complex will have a dual membership arrangement giving them access to both facilities.
The creche will be shut from April 28, with Belgravia saying in its memo to the members, “we have made the difficult decision to close the current creche Service ... and are currently looking at a number of solutions to support this change, including the addition of child friendly areas and classes”.
“Belgravia seems intent on running the complex into the ground and destroying a much loved community facility,” Mrs Rosier said.
“This approach is at odds with the broader investment by council to upgrade Bernie Mullane to accommodate future urban growth and — in their words — ‘allow more diverse use of one of our premier recreation facilities’.
“The complex has for many years survived on the hard work of young and enthusiastic casual staff despite the complete lack of support from Belgravia’s management for their endeavours.
“You only have to look at the old, broken and out of date equipment to see the absence of any investment.
“The closure of the creche just beggars belief and effectively excludes mothers from a community-owned facility.
“Only someone completely out-of-step with modern expectations would make such a decision.”
Mrs Rosier, a member of the complex for the past 13 years, said 80 of them had met with Belgravia’s management to “voice their vehement opposition to the cuts immediately after the announcement was made”.
Belgravia, when approached for their response, chose to comment through the council.
“Following representations from Belgravia Health and Leisure Group Pty Ltd, a review of commercial arrangements with council was carried out in relation to a number of operational and financial matters,” the council said.
“The review highlighted a number of concerns and Belgravia suggested changes that could potentially address the performance of both facilities to minimise the financial exposure to council and enable their business to operate more effectively.
“As a result, council and Belgravia agreed to consolidate both gymnasium facilities to Waves with new equipment and offer patrons at Bernie Mullane alternative fitness programs — with a dual membership arrangement giving access to both facilities.”
Clr Preston, said the business should at the least be breaking even “but we have lost substantial money over the years”.
“The Burnie Mullane Complex needs better equipment and better service,” Clr Preston said.
“We have no time frame to do this but are workshopping and there will be new tender process for the complex in March 2019.”
THE MAIN POINTS
Issue: Bernie Mullane Complex opening hours being cut, creche closed and outdated gym equipment
Who: Belgravia Health and Leisure Group operates the Baulkham Hills Memorial Swimming Pool Complex (Waves), Bernie Mullane netball courts and Bernie Mullane Indoor Sports facility under licence.
Campaign by: Bernie Mullane Sports Complex members who say they have no faith in Belgravia and were calling on The Hills Shire Council to intervene to:
■ immediately halt the proposed cuts, maintain existing operating hours and reopen the creche
■ appoint an independent expert to review operations
■ develop a long term management plan to sustain and improve health services at the complex.
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