Blacktown City Council places great importance on providing accessible sporting and recreation facilities for our community.
Rooty Hill Leisure Centre, located on Council land, is certainly not being removed from the community. Council will provide a facility which better meets the needs of the community of Rooty Hill and surrounding areas.
Council has reviewed the future of Rooty Hill Leisure Centre and considers it to be well placed to be a valuable part of the sport and recreation fabric of our city.
Council considers the best way forward is to resume management from private operation.
Importantly, the current operator was first made aware that this would occur some years ago, allowing an extended period for the operator to adjust hiring arrangements accordingly.
At this stage, however, the venue requires repair work.
To enable this work to be completed, and to prepare for future community uses, Council has closed the centre for a period of time.
Council staff, councillors and the Mayor undertook meetings with all the user groups to properly inform them of council’s process prior to the commencement of the closure of the Centre for repairs.
The public park on which the Centre sits, May Cowpe Reserve, will remain open to the public whilst the repair works are taking place in the Centre.
Council would like to assure the community that once the centre is reopened, it will be better equipped to serve the local residents and provide for the needs of the broader community.
All existing users of the Centre have been provided the opportunity to work with Council staff to explore options for re-location to other venues during the temporary closure. To date we have relocated more than half of the user groups.
We are pleased that most registered hirers have accepted the transition to alternate venues. Some groups are currently in negotiation with alternate Blacktown Council facilities to confirm alternate booking times and some have yet to confirm their needs.
When the centre is refurbished and ready for use, we will work with all potential user groups to ensure the best possible outcome.
Council would like to thank the community for its support and patience during the temporary closure.
