Update on Ricoh Sports Centre

Fraser Park Sportsville (FPS), who previously held the lease for the operation of the centre, decided to end this arrangement on September 30, 2024 for commercial reasons. FPS is a group of seven Founding Member Clubs based at Fraser Park, governed by an independent Board which included representation from the clubs.

While all parties are disappointed that the original Sportsville model was not successful, Council remains committed to ensuring the facility can deliver broad community benefits and meet the core needs of Founding Member Clubs under a new model which is more financially sustainable and requires less funding from rates.

The procurement process has included an initial ROI followed by a more detailed RFP from which a preferred tenderer was selected. During the RFP, tenderers were provided with a list of the priorities of Founding Members Clubs (provided by the clubs) and offered the opportunity to meet with them. Some Founding Member Clubs provided letters of support for RFP proposals.

Council is now in negotiations with the preferred tenderer and hopes to make an announcement by the end of November, with new operators in place early in 2025. Until then, this process is confidential as it is commercially sensitive. Since being selected, the preferred tenderers have met with all Founding Member Clubs.

Throughout this process Council has been keeping the Founding Member Clubs updated and they have met with the Mayor to discuss the matter. Representatives of the clubs, the Fraser Park Sportsville Board and Council have been working together in a Transition Working Group to ensure the change of operators is as smooth as possible.

At each key milestone, communications have been provided to clubs to pass on to their members and on September 23 a drop-in session was held for all users of the facility to hear about the change in management and to answer questions.