2021-09-07 Services & Organisation Committee Meeting Agenda

SERVICES & ORGANISATION COMMITTEE MEETING AGENDA                               7 SEPTEMBER 2021


Staff have worked well together throughout the year, ensuring Covid-19 systems and requirements
are upheld and have liaised closely with patrons and clients on the implications of the various
restrictions and lockdowns. Staff have been particularly grateful for the support Council has shown
them via the provision of pandemic leave and redeployment opportunities throughout Covid
shutdowns.
There are no further staffing issues of significance to report.

4.    SYSTEMS, PROCESSES AND OTHER MATTERS
     The NAC’s current software system has some limitations and we are investigating a more
      contemporary system that will allow for enhanced communication, flexibility and patron
      interface. We anticipate shifting at some point in 2022.
     The original main switchboard that was installed in 1999 has reached the end of its useful
      life and will be replaced with a modern equivalent in September. This will result in a multi-
      day shutdown in order to allow for the safe disconnection of the current switchboard and
      installation of the new one.
     The lease for the onsite café was tendered and awarded in 2021. The café operator is doing
      a great job and the high quality of their offering is appreciated by patrons.
     The NAC continues to trial in-house coordination of the junior squad program following the
      voluntary departure of the previous contract holders in 2020. The program is performing well
      so far but management are yet to determine the best long-term operating model.
     A series of promotional videos were filmed, highlighting the variety of services the NAC
      provides to the community. The videos will be uploaded on the website and used for social
      media campaigns in the near future.

5.    FUTURE DIRECTION
Similar to last year, the focus of the new financial year will continue to be on safely operating in
line with the various Covid-19 requirements and restrictions. While the team would love to see
utilisation levels grow to new highs, this must be done in a way that ensures staff and patron safety.
Given the program’s size and significance, the NAC has completed preliminary works to aid the
development of a strategy to guide the learn to swim program over the coming years. The program
has consistently performed to a high standard and is well regarded in the industry, however, the
team are keen to determine ways to stay ahead of the curve and ensure it remains a highly
successful program.
In addition, the NAC is to undertake a master planning process to ensure we continue to search
for ways to be even better and to provide the community with a facility that continues to adapt to
meet the changing ways in which our community recreates. While it was hoped that this piece of
work would have been completed by now, internal resourcing limitations have prevented that from
occurring. In the interim the NAC will continue to seek funding opportunities for the conceptualised
family change space and a standalone multipurpose room for group fitness programing and use
by a variety of associated key user and community groups.
Risks & Opportunities
This report does not propose any new actions or activities which would shift risks or opportunities
beyond the current levels encountered as part of the NAC’s day-to-day operations. However, it
should be noted that the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic presents significant operational risk to the
NAC in the form of staff and patron safety and financial performance of the centre. Management
will continue to do all they can to effectively balance service provision and safety by operating
within the parameters set by State and Federal governments and departments, and those
endorsed by Council’s own internal COVID-19 taskforce.



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