Lake Macquarie City Council

Lake Macquarie City Council appointed Otium to develop its new Aquatic Facilities Strategy, replacing the existing and outdated service delivery model. The Council owns and manages six aquatic centres, and this strategy provides strategic direction for their provision, development and management for the next 20 years.

Otium combined its industry expertise with a variety of engagement activities to understand the key challenges within the network and identify the future needs within Lake Macquarie.

The Strategy has provided Council with a comprehensive planning framework that:

• Considers the public and private supply of aquatic centres and pools within their municipality.
• Is guided by Council’s vision for their residents to have access to an integrated, diverse, inclusive, sustainable and modern network of swim centres that support active lifestyles, value swimming as a life skill and provide opportunities for social and community connection.
• Is based upon an Aquatic Facility Network Hierarchy that identifies their centres as regional, citywide, or district serving.
• Contains an evidence-based and prioritised action plan.
• Provides centre-specific actions that identify the future direction and investment needed for each centre.
• Implementation and review process.