ABOUT US
City Venue Management
We are the industry leader in Aquatics & Sporting Facility Management.
City Venue Management (CVM) is an experienced operations and management group, offering safer, high-quality, vibrant, and well-maintained aquatic, leisure, and sporting facilities.
With 43+ venues across Southeast Queensland, and New South Wales, each facility serves as a vital community hub that promotes healthy and active lifestyles.
Our commitment to creating mutually beneficial solutions for all stakeholders is a cornerstone of our partnership-based approach. We align our strategy with the community benefits we provide and the value we offer property owners, focusing on sustainable earnings.
Our mission to deliver aquatic education and promote community well-being is embedded in our DNA, driven by our founder Reece Rackley’s vision of accessible, inclusive environments for health and aquatic education.
WHAT WE DO?
Creating Experiences that Delight and Engage
At City Venue Management, we believe that every moment spent in our venues is an opportunity to move, to connect, and to grow. From the splash of a child’s first swim to the focused determination of an athlete in training, our spaces empower people to live active, healthy, and meaningful lives.
Renowned in Aquatic & Sporting Facility Management, our partnership-based, sustainable approach drives both community benefits and revenue growth. With a proven track record in enhancing facility performance and increasing attendance, our experienced team collaborates with various stakeholders to ensure optimal outcomes. Recognised with several industry awards, CVM is dedicated to the efficient and effective management of each facility we oversee.
OUR HISTORY
The Early Days.
With roots stretching back to the 1950s, City Venue Management launched in 1998 after becoming responsible for multiple aquatic, health and leisure facilities in Southeast Queensland.
THE EARLY DAYS
In the late 90s, the Burleigh Beach Swim Centre established itself as an iconic Gold Coast swim school — managed by the Rackley family. This success led the family to expand, managing larger government aquatic facilities and operating six Rackley Family Swim Schools across the east coast of Australia by 2008.
THE CURRENT AND FUTURE PICTURE
In 2013, the Rackley Family company restructured and relaunched as City Venue Management, focusing on four core business areas:
City Aquatics (Facility Management) — Working closely with venue owners to maintain, grow and improve their assets.
Rackley Swimming (Swim School Management) — Delivering high-quality Learn to Swim programs for children of all ages and abilities.
City Health Club (Health Club Management) — Operating health club facilities became another company strong suit, as well as an important part of our facility management product mix.
Stadium Management — Expanding beyond aquatics to manage multi-sport stadiums. And as a sub-branch, we are also dedicated to providing worldclass coaching for both competitive and recreational swimmers, helping them refine technique, build endurance, and enjoy aquatic sports in a supportive, social environment.
Lagoon Management — Managing purpose-built recreational lagoons as flagship community destinations, combining the appeal of beach-style swimming with the operational rigour of a managed aquatic facility. From water quality and lifeguarding to programming, events, and visitor experience, we oversee every aspect to ensure these iconic spaces remain safe, vibrant, and central to community life.
• The Rackley Family Swim Schools is providing high-quality Learn to Swim lessons at different venues, including the iconic Burleigh Beach Swim Centre.
• We opened our third and fourth locations for private swim schools: Currumbin on the Gold Coast and Lewisham in Sydney
• Won the tender on our second council contract - the Runcorn Pool (BCC)
• CVM won five by tendering jointly with BlueFit.
• Rackley Family Swim Schools and NSW-based BlueFit formed an operating agreement and launched a new facility management group called BlueFit Leisure.
• This saw us expand into the growing leisure facility management market.
• New leases with Scenic Rim Regional Council at Canungra and Tamborine Mountain.
• Acquired six-year lease at Kingston.
• Appointed as interim manager of Chermside and Centenary Aquatic Centres by BCC. Later received as leases.
Over the next three years (circa 2009-2012), our continued growth of new facilities under the Bluefit Leisure Group peaked at 32. This comprised of aquatic, fitness and leisure facilities – including a portfolio of golf courses and various other sporting fields and courts.
In July 2012, Rackley Group and BlueFit dissolved the operating agreement and parted ways, leaving the Rackley Group with 14 facilities in Queensland. The Rackley Group (QLD) was branded BlueFit Leisure P/L and the NSW portion was branded BlueFit P/L.
• After a year of restructuring, we were officially renamed City Venue Management.
• We commenced a new lease with Burleigh.
• Acquired a 68-year lease of the Logan West Aquatic Centre.
• Awarded the Design, Construct and Management contract of the Parkinson Aquatic Centre (BCC's newest aquatic centre). This is the first time a private entity has been awarded a local government contract of this nature.
• Parkinson Development turned soil in September.
• Rackley Swimming launched its first shopping centre swim school in November at Deagon Shopping Centre.
• Opened Rackley Swimming Redbank Plains, Pimpama and Westlake.
• Opened Rackley Swimming Parkwood and Southport.
• Opened Acacia Ridge Leisure Centre.
• Acquired the tender of North Lakes Aquatic Centre.
• Launched Fish N Flips Swim School.
• Acquired the tender of Jindalee Pool.
• In July 2025, we acquired all of Logan City Council's aquatic Centres.
• In September 2025, we then acquired all of Scenic Rim's Aquatic Centres & Regional Swimming Pools.
Our Partners.
Providing vital community hubs together.
We take great pride in the solid and cooperative partnerships we have established with our asset partners throughout the years. Looking ahead, we are excited about the prospect of forming many more of these valuable connections in the future
Our Brands.
A lifetime of swimming starts with Rackley Swimming.
Rackley Swimming, our core brand, is a family-run business with decades of industry experience. As Queenslands largest provider of swim schools, we are dedicated to enhancing children’s safety, swim skills, and water confidence. We believe every child should have access to swimming lessons, which is why we operate in over 40 swim schools across Queensland with friendly, qualified staff passionate about teaching essential water skills and confidence.
Swimming is a lifelong skill that enables Australians to fully enjoy our nation’s lifestyle. Our vision is to equip children with life-saving skills that last a lifetime, establishing Rackley as a credible and well-known brand with venues across Australia synonymous with swimming.
From our humble beginnings at the iconic Burleigh Heads Bath pool in 1951, Rackley Swimming has expanded to 43 locations and growing throughout Southeast Queensland, including 2 new locations in Far North QLD in Townsville and 1 in Smithfield, New South Wales. Rackley Swimming is proud to be a local, family-owned business dedicated to helping children learn to swim and empowering our communities with the necessary skills, water safety, and confidence to be safer in and around the water.
Rackley Squad Swimming
CVM is proud of its deep commitment to the communities it serves through swim squads and swim clubs, supporting swimmers of all ages, abilities, and ambitions. We partner with several established local swim clubs to provide pathways for training, competition, personal growth, and water safety, ensuring our squad programs deliver both high performance and inclusivity.
Through our squad programs, CVM ensures all partner clubs have access to high-quality facilities, expert coaching, and structured competition. Our commitment is to develop swimmers who are confident, safe, and capable—strengthening communities through health, achievement, and connection in and out of the water. Through consistent coaching and facilities, Rackley supports swimmers progressing from learn-to-swim through to regional, state and national competitions.
At the heart of our Brisbane network is Rackley Swim Team, our flagship club for seven Rackley pools in Brisbane.
City Health Clubs
Connecting communities through health and fitness. At our health club, we’re much more than just gym equipment, sweat towels, and group exercise classes. We are a community-based health club where friendships are formed, memories are made, and goals are achieved.
City Aquatics.
Our premium aquatic centres are community hubs, inspiring active lifestyles with state-of-the-art facilities.
They embody our mission, encouraging everyone to engage in water-based activities, fostering health, and unity in the local region.
Beyond Swimming
Our impact extends across the aquatic sports ecosystem. We deepen our connections with diving, water polo, surf lifesaving, triathlon, and master’s programs operating within our venues. We are committed to cultivating thriving, multisport training environments by supporting clubs, building collaborative partnerships, and fostering pathways that broaden participation and development opportunities across aquatic disciplines.
Towards 2032
With a local major sporting event on the horizon, we are strategically investing in coaches, programs, and facilities to elevate athletes to the green-and-gold stage. Our vision is to provide clear pathways from grassroots to elite competition, ensuring that swimmers and aquatic athletes of all ages and abilities can develop, excel, and sustain a lifelong connection to the water.
