A recreational facility that has been closed for more than five months is poised to re-open after a school stepped in and bought it, but full entry details are yet to be revealed.
The Peregian Springs venue was shut down after the developer’s 10-year agreement to own and operate it came to an end.
Homeowners of the Ridges community estate, who had essentially paid an annual levy to Aveo Group for exclusive access, were offered the chance to buy it and take on the operating costs but a vote among them failed, the doors were closed and it was put on the market.
Nearby St Andrew’s Anglican College announced late Friday that it was taking over.
The college issued a press release saying the sale was achieved following a competitive expressions of interest campaign.
College principal Chris Ivey said the rec centre was a great asset to the area.
“Community is major part of who we are, and we are committed to providing opportunities and facilities that benefit both our internal and broader community,” he said in the release.
“The facility will operate as a public-facing cafe, pool and gym, albeit with some restrictions on access to the pool, based on the operational requirements of the college.”
Gary Kordic of Aveo Group was “delighted on the outcome”.
“St Andrew’s is best placed to enable the facility to re-open as soon as possible for the enjoyment of the broader community,” he said.
Under the new ownership, members will pay a fee to use the pool, gymnasium, tennis courts and barbecue facilities.
The popular all-access Pool Cafe will continue its lease, while the tennis courts will also be available to hire by any members of the public on weekdays.
Applications for memberships will open in early April, with the centre to reopen at full capacity in early May.
The college, celebrating its 20th birthday, had been looking to buy additional land for some time as it looked to expand its capacity to deliver services to the community.
The opportunity to buy 8000sqm within walking distance of the current campus was something Mr Ivey said the College Council thought was important to bid for.
“Our college has grown significantly and quickly over the last 20 years, becoming one of the most sought-after schools on the Sunshine Coast,” he said.
“A facility like this gives us additional ability to deliver the high-quality programs we offer to more students and the extended community.”
The chairman of the local principal body corporate, Roger Cook, said it was “too early to tell” what the sale will mean for many residents, including those from Ridges who previously enjoyed exclusive access.
“We would need to see some more detail,” he said.
“We don’t know what the membership structure is going to look like and what it’s going to cost.
“Is it going to cost $4000 a year for memberships or $5 for entry?
“I know what it was going to cost us to operate the facility (if Ridges homeowners bought it) and $5 entry wasn’t going to cover the costs of operating it.
“So, we’ve got to see what the membership structure looks like.
“It could be affordable, or it could be completely out of the range for some families.”
The school’s website said that fees were “yet to be finalised” but fees and membership options would become clear on April 11.
Mr Cook wondered what the long-term future held for the rec centre site on The Avenue.
The school told Sunshine Coast News there were no plans, currently, to change the site.
“We are committed for two years to keep the facility open to the public, with no long-term development plans at the moment,” it said.
Mr Ivey said in the release that “the college has no plans in the near future to redevelop any aspects of the rec centre and it will continue to be open to the public”.
“There will be times when some operations, such as the gym or sections of the pool, are available solely to our St Andrew’s sporting teams or the current community-based programs we run,” he said. “This may include programs like swimming lessons for students at additional schools or other user groups.”
The school is in the midst of a massive upgrade at its home on Peregian Springs Drive.
It opened a $15m learning hub and a $14m aquatic facility in recent years and there were plans for more developments, including a $50m performing arts centre, in coming years.
“We are currently focused on delivering our current masterplan, which includes the current construction of our primary playing courts and extra car parking, followed by our Music and Performing Arts Centre and a purpose-designed STEAM facility,” the school said.
Help us deliver more news by registering for our free daily news feed. All it requires is your name and email. See SUBSCRIBE at the top of this article.
