Doors to the Peregian Springs Recreational Facility will reopen to the community soon, thanks to a signed agreement between Aveo Group and St Andrew’s Anglican College.
The Rec Centre sale was achieved following a competitive expressions of interest campaign after the Ridges Body Corporate voted against the transfer of the Rec Centre at the latter part of last year.
As part of the sale, St Andrew’s have committed to opening the facility to the broader community to ensure it will once again become a hive of activity, welcoming locals back to their much-loved community hub.
St Andrew’s Anglican College principal Chris Ivey said the College recognised the important part the facility had played in bringing the community together and was a great asset to the local 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,” Mr Ivey said.
“The facility will continue to operate as a public facing café, pool, and gym, albeit with some restrictions on access to the pool based on the operational requirements of the College.”
Gary Kordic, Aveo Group said, “We are 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.”
Under the new ownership, the Rec Centre will continue to run on a fee-paying basis for the pool and gymnasium. The popular Pool Cafe will continue its lease and continue to run as is.
Applications for memberships will open early April, with the centre to reopen at full capacity in early May.
“The College has no plans in the near future to re-develop any aspects of the Rec Centre and it will continue to be open to the public,” Mr Ivey said.
“Although 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.
“This may include programs like swimming lessons for students at additional schools or other user groups.”
The Peregian Springs based College, which is celebrating its 20th birthday this year, has been looking to purchase additional land for some time, as it looks to expand its capacity to deliver services to the community.
The opportunity to purchase 8000sqm within walking distance to 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.”
St Andrew’s built and opened its own $14 million Aquatic Centre in 2019, which has grown to be a prominent venue within the community, attracting more than 7000 patrons per month, from babies as young as three months old, to high level performance athletes.
The centre has held state, regional and district events, hosted Olympians, as well as weekly swimming lessons for public schools, school carnivals, and community events. It currently employs an average of 40 staff at any one time.
