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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2003 Week 7 Hansard (25 June) . . Page.. 2451 ..

MR STEFANIAK (continuing):

We are talking about the potential for lots of clubs to be affected by this legislation, clubs which have done a very good job for many members of our community and provided especially some wonderful supporting facilities and services to thousands of people in our community.

Getting back to the Kaleen example, which is a really classic case in point because we are dealing with a club on premises where there are sporting facilities and, indeed, water, it was said at the Belconnen meeting by one of the proponents that there is no money in water. There certainly is not. When we put money in to build the whole thing ourselves, even with a sophisticated complex like it was proposed to be, we anticipated that basically we would break even or maybe make about 50 grand a year at best.

Tuggeranong initially had to be subsidised $400,000. I think the aim was to get that down to break even, which it probably does, but for a complex like this you need to attach other things to it which make money. My understanding of this proposal is that the proponent proposes to lease all the ancillary facilities around the core of the swimming pool itself, which would be eminently sensible. I understand that that is very similar to the situation that applies at Kaleen.

The proprietor of Bodyworks, Mr Pashalidis, in a letter to members of the Assembly about the Kaleen Indoor Recreation Centre, stated:

I am the proprietor of Bodyworks Gymnasiums. One of our Gyms is located within the Kaleen Indoor Recreation Facility. The Gym has existed at Kaleen since the facility opened in 1988.

Our gymnasium at Kaleen is one of our busiest, and has the entrance located directly opposite the entry to the Sports Club Kaleen (which contains poker machines).

I am not aware of any problems caused to our business or our members by the inclusion of a Club (and poker machines) within the facility of this Centre. In fact, I believe the Club plays an important role in the success of all the businesses operating from within this Centre.

I do not believe a Club with poker machines would cause any disruption or deter any visitors to the facilities at Belconnen. To further back this up, I am currently negotiating the relocation of my Belconnen based gymnasium to the new Belconnen Pool facility because of the additional tenancies in place, including the Club.

I urge you to reconsider the proposed legislation amendments currently before you, and reject them.

Jeremy Brettell of the Kaleen Swim Centre wrote:

Dear Members of the ACT Legislative Assembly

The Kaleen Swim Centre is located inside the Kaleen Indoor Recreation Centre. I have managed or assisted in the management of this business since 1995.

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