Elsie Lange
A lack of public 24-hour gyms in Sunbury has prompted a call to investigate how to turn the Aquatic and Leisure Centre into an all-night facility, like Craigieburn’s Splash.
At a meeting on August 8, Hume councillor Jarrod Bell raised an item of general business asking how the conversion could happen, what the benefits and obstacles would be, and suggested pathways to making it a reality.
Cr Bell, who professed to have undergone a “bit of a health kick”, said his busy lifestyle meant business hours weren’t convenient for him to access the gym, which meant he was forced to work out at a private, 24-hour facility in Sunbury.
“As a councillor with the city, I think it would be better if I could lead the way and support our internal Hume city council facilities,” Cr Bell said.
“But alas, I cannot do that, because when I want to go to the gym at 11pm, our one here in Sunbury is closed and as much as the one at Splash is fantastic, I’m not driving all the way to Craigieburn just to go to the gym.”
He said while it sounded “awfully selfish” of him, people in the community had questioned why there were no public, 24-hour centres in the municipality to exercise, especially when the leisure centre would be ideal.
“I understand there are some things that need to occur, some possible building changes. I know we’re going through and doing some works there at the moment,” Cr Bell said.
“I feel that may have been a lost opportunity to maybe do some conversion works and turn our gym in Sunbury into a 24-hour facility.
“But I really want to get this on the agenda as something that would be a relatively easy and simple win to get more people using our council facilities.”
Cr Naim Kurt said he would like to see the same investigation into turning Broadmeadows Aquatic and Leisure Centre into a 24-hour facility too.
