The Y awarded contract to manage new Gippsland Regional Aquatic Centre

We are thrilled to have been awarded Latrobe City Council’s contract to operate the newly developed Gippsland Regional Aquatic Centre (GRAC) in Traralgon.

GRAC will be an exciting state-of-the-art facility, catering to all ages and abilities. At the Y, with our focus on safety and delivering inclusive and diverse programs for the whole community, we are committed to supporting locals with their health and wellness goals, both under COVID-normal operations and beyond.

We look forward to collaborating with Latrobe City Council to provide industry leading programs that deliver improved recreation, health and wellbeing outcomes to the community while ensuring GRAC’s financial sustainability. In addition to core operational duties at GRAC, the Y will provide educational opportunities and significant social and economic benefits to the community, including employing local people, particularly youth, and purchasing goods and services locally wherever possible.

The decision followed a comprehensive and competitive tender process.

The YMCA has substantive experience in successfully operating similar recreational facilities on behalf of councils in other municipalities Latrobe City Council

We are so pleased to have been successful in our tender to operate Gippsland Regional Aquatic Centre, an exciting and innovative facility that will be a vibrant and inclusive community hub for fitness, aquatics and social connection. It will also create more local jobs, which is vital as we continue to recover from COVID,” said Carolyn Morris, CEO YMCA Victoria.

The opening of GRAC will provide an estimated additional 100-plus operational jobs in Latrobe City, the provision of a major recreational facility for the community and the opportunity to conduct major regional sporting events to enhance tourism opportunities in the wider Latrobe and Gippsland region.

Construction of the GRAC continues to advance in line with best practice guidelines to ensure the safety of workers during the COVID-19 pandemic with completion scheduled for early 2021.

It is planned that the centre will be opened to the public sometime after February, subject to the relevant COVID restrictions easing, and a transition and testing phase being undertaken by the Y.

The construction of GRAC has been made possible by funding from the State Government’s Latrobe Valley Sports and Community Initiative.

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