Aquatic Centres Strategic Review

Aquatic Centres Strategic Review

Aquatic Centres Strategic Review

Client

City of Gold Coast

Project Purpose

To review the performance of the City’s in-house and outsourced aquatic centres, recommend a management model for each centre and identify short, medium and long-term (up to 20 years) needs for future aquatic facilities, programs and services that maximise community benefit and financial viability for the City.

Project Outcomes

Since adoption of the Strategy, the City of Gold Coast have invested approximately $100 million in new and existing facility upgrades across three strategically important sites, including:

  • Miami Aquatic Centre
  • Palm Beach Aquatic Centre (opened October 2024)
  • Northern Gold Coast Corridor Aquatic and Leisure Centre (opened December 2021)
Central Coast Open Space Strategy 2024-2031

Central Coast Open Space Strategy 2024-2031

Central Coast Open Space Strategy 2024-2031

Client

Central Coast Council

Project Purpose

To prepare a long-term Open Space Strategy to ensure the supply and development of public open space is sufficient to support the anticipated future growth within the LGA.

Otium’s Role

  • Conduct a range of engagement activities, both online and in-person, to gather insight from individuals and sporting groups.
  • Supply analysis and functional assessment of the Central Coast’s open space network.
  • Demand assessment of current and future open space demand.
  • Develop guiding principles, a provision framework, and strategic actions to support future strategy.

 

Project Outcomes

  • A quantifiable deficiency of open space to clearly define the future need within the Central Coast for open space for sport and recreation.
  • The preparation of a provision framework to ensure that the standards of size, distribution, and accessibility are met for any future open space developments.
  • Planning Catchment Area analysis of open space provision to understand local access in addition to LGA-wide distribution.
Bowls Canterbury Operational and Management Review

Bowls Canterbury Operational and Management Review

Bowls Canterbury Operational and Management Review

Client

Bowls Canterbury (New Zealand)

Project Purpose

To undertake a comprehensive operational review of Bowls Canterbury, providing an independent assessment of the organisation’s governance, management and operating environment. The review represented a strategic opportunity to optimise Bowls Canterbury’s functions and performance, ensuring the organisation is well positioned to foster a culture of high performance, attract and manage funding effectively and provide strong leadership for the growth, promotion and development of bowls in Canterbury.

Otium’s Role

  • Situational analysis of operations, governance, leadership and performance.
  • Review and assessment of planning and growth objectives.
  • Financial Management review.
  • Analysis of high performance and community programs.
  • Stakeholder engagement.
  • Development of strategic framework for the organisation.

 

Project Outcomes

Identification of key recommendations, supported by a prioritised implementation plan to ensure the organisation can progress the operational, financial, engagement and pathway improvements in a more coordinated way.

Project Challenges/Key Learnings

  • Balancing the expectations of over 50 clubs, in varied size and structure.
  • Meaningful stakeholder engagement highlighted the importance of transparent communication, stronger relationships with clubs and clear strategic priorities.
  • Sustainable sport organisations require strong connections between strategy, staffing, financial management and service delivery to effectively support future growth and participation.
  • The review highlighted the importance of robust strategic planning frameworks, including measurable outcomes, implementation planning and regular monitoring to support long-term success.

Community Benefits

  • A stronger, more strategically focussed organisation that is better positioned to support clubs, volunteers and participants across Canterbury.
  • Improved governance and organisational planning will help ensure bowls remains viable and accessible for future generations.
  • Enhanced stakeholder engagement and communication processes will support stronger relationships between Bowls Canterbury, clubs and the wider bowls community.
  • A coordinated implementation plan provides a clear roadmap for strengthening community participation, supporting club sustainability and growing the sport throughout the region.

Bundha Sports Centre

Bundha Sports Centre

Bundha Sports Centre

Client

Sport and Recreation Victoria

Project Capital Cost

$54.5 million

Project Purpose

Bundha Sports Centre, constructed on the Fitzroy Gasworks site, is Australia’s first multi-level community indoor court facility. The centre comprises four courts for competition-level basketball, netball, and volleyball; a multi-purpose court for futsal; a gymnasium; a program/meeting room; a café and lounge area; community facilities; all gender change rooms; a foyer and reception area.

Otium was appointed by Sport and Recreation Victoria to undertake numerous stages of the project.

Otium’s Role

  • Preparation of the Feasibility Study.
  • Preparation of the Business Case.
  • Preparation of the Facility Operating Model including detailed financial modelling.
  • Review of the Management options.
  • Completed market sounding with external management companies.
  • Development of the operating agreement and tender documentation for the external lease arrangement.
  • Coordination of the development of a 20-year Capital Replacement and Maintenance Plan.
  • Assistance with the Tender Evaluation Process.

 

Project Outcomes

Successful appointment of a long-term venue manager, Clublinks.

Project Challenges/Key Learnings

  • Funded via Development Victoria, but local authority declined the option to manage the facility.
  • First sport facility contract arrangement for Victorian State Government. Other state facilities managed under State Sports Trust (separate statutory body).
  • Development of an integrated school (Education Department) and community sports facility (Sport and Recreation Victoria).
  • Development of a multi-use facility on small footprint.

Community Benefits

  • The first publicly accessible vertical sports centre in Australia.
  • The venue will support local sports clubs and encourage more of the community to get active.

Bland Shire Sport and Recreation Plan

Bland Shire Sport and Recreation Plan

Bland Shire Sport and Recreation Plan

Client

Bland Shire Council (NSW)

Project Purpose

Bland Shire Council engaged Otium to complete its Sport and Recreation Plan. The Plan identified and responded to the community’s current and future needs for sporting and recreational facilities.

Otium’s Role

  • Research and analysis, including regional trends in sport and recreation delivery.
  • On-site engagement, including three community drop-in sessions, attending the Shire’s show, and a community survey.
  • Distribution and catchment analysis of the sport and recreation network.
  • Thorough site analysis and utilisation review.
  • Strategy and Action Plan development.

 

Project Outcomes

  • Developing strategic directions in the future planning of Bland Shire’s sport and recreation facilities.
  • Classification of the network into five key facility types.
  • Development of the facility classification/hierarchy framework to guide future purpose, catchment, embellishment, management and maintenance of the Shire’s sport and active recreation facilities network.
  • Development of an Action Plan with short-term, medium-term and long-term priorities with indicative costs for implementation per site.