Opened in April 2021, the aquatic centre is a long way off from achieving the approved 2021 Special Rate Variation (SRV) contribution application towards operating expenses, which targeted a 53% contribution towards operating costs by ratepayers and a 47% contribution by users.
With the centre remaining as a council operated model ratepayers were left to pick up the bill with a hefty 72% of the centre’s operating costs for the 2023/24 financial year.
The centre’s operational performance and financial report, tabled at council’s July 30 monthly meeting, shows an operating loss of $495,095 for the financial year 2023/24. This follows a loss of $395,149 for 2022/23 and $583,312 for 2021/22 reporting years. Added together, the consecutive losses total $1.473 million.
A new “Tiered Supervision Model” aims to pull back the annual loss of the centre by almost $250,000 and will be implemented in the 2024/25 financial year.
Federation Council General Manager Adrian Butler said the forecast modelling for the Tiered Supervision (lower staff numbers) Model was first included in council business papers for the June 2023 council meeting and put out on public exhibition to seek community feedback and subsequently endorsed by council at the October 2023 meeting after community consultation.
The model adopted was one of seven options put forward to council on completing the service review aimed at seeking further efficiencies in the centre.
“The report identified that the forecasting for this model would provide an estimated $245,635 reduction in operational costs compared against the budget for the 2022-23 year,” Mr Butler said.
“This model has been approved by council's insurer and has been utilised by other regional facilities that experience periods of low patronage.”
Mr Butler said the new pool model is based on employing a core base of full-time employees, supplemented with a casual workforce, reducing lifeguards when there is a low number of patrons at the centre.
The model also plans to multi-skill staff in the centre to be able to cover customer service and lifeguard duties.
“Council staff are in the process of implementing the new Tiered Supervision Model with recruitment for the full-time positions occurring now,” he said.
“It is expected the new model will be operational by the upcoming summer season which commences in early November.
“The modelling for the Tiered Supervision Model identified that the user pays is estimated to be 32% and ratepayer contribution is estimated to be 68% - that if achieved, will bring it into a closer alignment with the split included in the application for the additional rate increase approved by the Independent Pricing And Regulatory Tribunal.”
Mr Butler said council have and will continue to look at cost savings and efficiencies across all operations, not only its swimming pools.
“Council remains committed to providing our pool services, alongside our other 44 council delivered services,” he said.
“I wish to assure the community that we will continue to review our service delivery across council operations to ensure we are containing costs where possible.”
Mr Butler said that council operates four swimming pools, all of which require a substantial investment.
He said the Corowa Aquatic Centre, and other pools located throughout the Federation Council area remain valued assets for the Federation community.
“They provide an opportunity for local children to be taught life-saving swimming skills and for all community members who enjoy the social and fitness element of water-based activities here in Federation,” Mr Butler said.
At the July meeting council unanimously approved the motion to note the contents of the Corowa Aquatic Centre’s 2023-24 Operational Performance and Finance Report, continue to monitor admission data, seasonal trends, and membership rates of the aquatic centre and continue to implement the Corowa Aquatic Centre Business Plan 2022/23 - 2025/26.
Some of the highlights outlined in the centre’s 2023/24 financial report included 34,092 admissions, 253 memberships, the continuation of subsidised aqua fitness classes, 271 learn-to-swim students enrolled, weekly physiotherapy classes delivered by a third party and a significant increase in lane hire.
Federation Council Deputy Mayor Sean Whitechurch acknowledged Manager Environment, Facilities and Regulations Angela Reidy’s work on the aquatic centre.
Cr Whitechurch also highlighted the facility's importance to the community while acknowledging the challenging situation around costs and making it more sustainable.
“The facility is getting an enormous amount of use,” Cr Whitechurch said.
“Probably the best one is the 271 learn to swim kids enrolled. One of the largest learn to swims (programs) in the area. All the swimming clubs are benefiting from it and now the lane hire has gone up almost 700 more hours.”
Cr Sally Hughes praised Ms Reidy’s leadership and planning expertise which she said has paved a positive way forward for the aquatic centre and commented on how she is coming up with excellent results with the tiered model.
“She has developed a suite of measures to improve the financial sustainability, and we are going to see extended opening hours without extra costs, and a lower employment cost by around $200,000 a year,” Cr Hughes said.
“She is also imbedding savings and cost containment strategies across the operation in various areas.”
