City Venue Management and the Gold Coast community

City Venue Management (CVM) is honoured to have been appointed by the City of Gold Coast to manage and operate eight community aquatic centres across the Gold Coast. We know these centres are much more than places to swim. They are community hubs and an important part of everyday life – where children learn essential water safety skills, families spend time together, people stay active and healthy, athletes train, and lifelong connections are made. 

Working together through the transition

CVM will work closely with the City of Gold Coast and existing centre teams to support a smooth transition, while taking the time to understand each centre and the communities they serve. 

For customers, our priority is to provide welcoming, safe and well-managed facilities, with programs and services that help more people enjoy the benefits of swimming, fitness and aquatic recreation. We also recognise the important role these centres play beyond the pool. We value our role in supporting local swimming clubs, schools, community groups, events, programs and partnerships that bring people together.

As we get to know each community, we’ll listen to customers and local stakeholders to understand what is working well and where there may be opportunities to improve, grow participation and create even more value for the community.

Gold Coast Aquatic Centres

• Gold Coast Aquatic Centre
• Helensvale Aquatic Centre
• Miami Aquatic Centre
• Nerang Aquatic Centre
• Palm Beach Aquatic Centre
• Pimpama Sports Hub Aquatic Centre
• Upper Coomera Aquatic Centre
• Mudgeeraba Aquatic Centre (currently closed for renovations)

What does CVM do?

Managing a community aquatic centre is about much more than opening and closing the pool.

Our teams are responsible for a broad range of operational and customer-focused services, including:

• Facility operations – day-to-day management and presentation of facilities
• Lifeguarding and water safety – maintaining safe aquatic environments for customers
• Customer service – creating welcoming and positive experiences
• Aquatic programs – programs that encourage participation at every stage
• Learn to Swim – helping children develop essential swimming and water safety skills
• Squad and performance swimming – supporting swimmers to develop their skills and reach their potential
• Community programs – activities that encourage health, wellbeing and participation
• Events and activations – bringing communities together through experiences and events
• Workforce management – supporting and developing the people who deliver services every day
• Compliance and governance – meeting regulatory, contractual and operational requirements
• Marketing and community engagement – connecting customers with programs, services and opportunities
• Safety and risk management – identifying and managing risks across our facilities and operations

Frequently Asked Questions

Every day, thousands of people visit public pools to learn to swim, exercise, train, spend time with family and enjoy their local community. Creating an environment where people can participate with confidence requires a strong commitment to safety, compliance and high operational standards.

Safety is at the heart of every aquatic facility.

That commitment has been recognised across six Brisbane City Council aquatic facilities, which have achieved Gold Safety Status through Royal Life Saving’s aquatic safety assessment program.

Congratulations to the teams at:

• Runcorn Aquatic Centre
• Colmslie Aquatic Centre
• Chermside Aquatic Centre & Water Park
• Hibiscus Aquatic & Leisure Centre
• Parkinson Aquatic Centre
• Jindalee Aquatic Centre

What does Gold Safety Status mean?

Royal Life Saving’s Aquatic Facility Safety Assessment provides an independent assessment of an aquatic facility’s safety performance, legislative compliance and risk management.

The assessment considers a range of operational areas and is aligned with the Guidelines for Safe Pool Operations (GSPO), relevant Australian Standards and applicable state and territory requirements.

Achieving Gold recognition is an important acknowledgement of a facility’s commitment to maintaining strong safety and operational practices.

For customers, that work happens largely behind the scenes. It is reflected in the everyday processes, procedures, training and attention to detail that help aquatic facilities operate safely and effectively.

A team achievement

While the recognition is attached to each facility, it represents the collective effort of the people who work there every day.

From lifeguards and duty managers to customer service teams, swim teachers, maintenance staff and centre leadership, maintaining high safety standards requires everyone to understand their role and work together.

Aquatic environments are constantly changing. Customer numbers fluctuate, programs operate across different areas of a facility, weather conditions can change and different groups use the centre throughout the day.

Maintaining a high standard therefore requires more than having policies in place. It requires teams who are trained, attentive and committed to putting those standards into practice every day.

The Gold Safety Status recognises that ongoing commitment.

Preparing for a busy summer

The recognition comes at an important time of year as Brisbane’s aquatic centres prepare for the warmer months.

Summer is one of the busiest periods for public aquatic facilities, with more families visiting pools, children participating in swimming activities and communities making the most of their local facilities.

For the teams at Runcorn, Colmslie, Chermside, Hibiscus, Parkinson and Jindalee, Gold Safety Status provides an opportunity to recognise the work that has already gone into preparing their facilities and teams for the season ahead.

It is also a reminder that safety remains an ongoing responsibility.

Every swim, every lesson, every training session and every family visit relies on the commitment of the people working behind the scenes to create a safe and welcoming environment.

Congratulations to our Brisbane teams

We are incredibly proud of the teams at all six facilities and the professionalism they demonstrate every day.

Gold Safety Status is not simply an achievement to celebrate, it reflects an ongoing commitment to safety, compliance, continuous improvement and the communities these facilities serve.

As we head into summer, congratulations to everyone involved in achieving this recognition and thank you for the important work you do every day to help Brisbane’s aquatic communities swim, move, connect and thrive. 💙

Congratulations to the teams at Runcorn, Colmslie, Chermside, Hibiscus, Parkinson and Jindalee Aquatic Centres.

What a night at the 2026 ASSA Awards of Excellence!

On 26 August 2026, the swim school community from across Australia came together at QT Gold Coast for an unforgettable evening of celebration and recognition.

As part of the ASSA SPARK 2026 Aquatics Conference, the Australian Swim Schools Association Awards of Excellence Gala celebrated the incredible swim schools, leaders, educators, teachers and industry professionals who continue to make a difference across swimming and water safety in Australia.

For Rackley Swimming, it was an incredibly proud night.

Across national and Queensland categories, our teams and people were recognised for the work they do every day to deliver exceptional swimming experiences, develop our people, support our communities and help shape the future of swimming and water safety.

From national gold awards to Queensland regional wins, national finalist recognition and highly commended awards, these achievements represent the dedication, passion and hard work of so many people across our organisation.

National Gold Awards for Rackley Swimming

🥇 Water Safety — Australia
Received by Shani Gold & Michelle Scudamore

🥇 Marketing & Communications — Australia
Received by Codi Tiedeman

Queensland Regional Winners for Rackley Swimming
🏆 Water Safety
🏆 Emerging Talent — Sophie Vickery, Rackley Swimming Kingston
🏆 Inclusive Swim School
🏆 Community Service
🏆 Marketing & Communications
🏆 Customer Service Excellence
🏆 Staff Development & Training — Rackley Swimming Colmslie
🏆 Swim School of the Year (up to 1,000 lessons per week) — Rackley Swimming Tobruk

National Finalists for Rackley Swimming
⭐ Emerging Talent — Sophie Vickery, Rackley Swimming Kingston
⭐ Inclusive Swim School
⭐ Community Service
⭐ Customer Service Excellence
⭐ Staff Development & Training — Rackley Swimming Colmslie
⭐ Swim School of the Year (up to 1,000 lessons per week) — Rackley Swimming Tobruk

Highly Commended
👏 Swim School Turnaround — Rackley Swimming Toowoomba
👏 Swim School Coordinator & Manager of the Year — Kim Rigby, Rackley Swimming Kawana
👏 Swim School of the Year (over 1,000 lessons per week) — Rackley Swimming Kawana

These awards represent so much more than certificates and trophies.

They recognise the people behind the programs, the lessons, the customer experiences and the communities we serve.

They celebrate the swim teachers who show up every day to build confidence and teach essential water safety skills. The managers who lead and support their teams. The facility teams who create welcoming environments. The leaders who continue to challenge what is possible. And every member of the Rackley Swimming family who contributes to the experience our customers have in our pools.

We are incredibly proud to see Rackley Swimming recognised alongside some of the best swim schools and aquatic professionals in Australia.

A huge congratulations to Sophie Vickery, Kim Rigby, Rackley Swimming Colmslie, Rackley Swimming Tobruk, Rackley Swimming Kawana, Rackley Swimming Toowoomba and every member of the Rackley Swimming team who contributed to these achievements.

And thank you to the Australian Swim Schools Association (ASSA) for creating an evening that celebrates the people and organisations working to make swimming and water safety better across Australia.

We’re proud to be shaping the future of swimming in Queensland and Australia.

Sam Short, Rackley Swim Team athlete, Australian Olympian and proud Swimming Australia Dolphin, is taking his performances in the pool to new heights, and at the Australian Swim Schools Association (ASSA) SPARK 2026 National Aquatics Conference, he took to the stage to share the mindset, lessons and determination behind them.

Representing Rackley Swim Team on a national stage, Sam joined the Pathways to Purpose panel, speaking to an audience of swim school leaders, aquatic professionals and industry representatives from across Australia.

Alongside Rob Woodhouse, CEO of Swimming Australia; Jon Harker, Managing Director of Hark Attack and former President of ASSA; and Tim Welsford, CEO of Water Polo Australia, Sam shared his experiences as an elite athlete and the lessons he has taken from an extraordinary year in the pool.

The panel was hosted by Duncan Armstrong OAM OLY, motivational speaker and leadership consultant.

And what a year it has been.

In 2026, Sam claimed four gold medals at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, becoming the first man in Commonwealth Games history to win the 400m, 800m and 1500m freestyle at the same Games. But behind those performances are lessons that extend far beyond the results.

For a room full of people who help teach Australia’s next generation of swimmers, it was a powerful reminder that the pathway from the learn-to-swim pool to the world stage is built one step, one lesson, one training session and one belief at a time.

Sam represents what is possible when talent is matched with commitment, patience and the willingness to keep improving. And perhaps the most important message he can share with the swimming community is a simple one: It all starts with the belief that you can keep getting better.

We couldn’t be prouder to see Sam representing Rackley Swim Team on the national stage, not just as an elite athlete, but as an inspiration to the next generation of swimmers coming through our pools. 💙

Every journey to the world stage begins with a first step in the water.

One incredible legacy.

Last week, we gathered at Centenary Pool for one final sunset. 🌅

For 67 years, this iconic Brisbane venue has been part of the city’s story, a place where generations learned to swim, athletes trained, friendships were formed, careers began and countless memories were made.

But Centenary Pool’s greatest legacy isn’t the building. It’s the people.

For more than 16 years, City Venue Management has been privileged to be one of Centenary’s custodians. Through Rackley Swimming, thousands of children have learned essential swimming and water safety skills, swimmers have developed through Rackley Swim Team, and athletes coached by Damien Jones have gone on to represent Australia and compete on the world stage.

Yet beyond the lessons, lanes and medals, Centenary has always been about something bigger: community.

It’s the people who have walked through the gates, supported one another, taught, coached, trained, competed and cheered from the sidelines. It’s the team members who have dedicated years of their lives to the venue and the families who have made it part of their own stories.

We’d like to extend a special thank you to Councillor Vicki Howard for helping us celebrate this remarkable legacy, and to our long-standing team members Mel Murphy, Jenny Green and Michelle Scudamore for the care, commitment and community they have built at Centenary over so many years.

There’s a saying that feels particularly fitting:

“We don’t own places like Centenary. We simply get our turn looking after them.”

Now, that baton passes to a new chapter, with the site moving towards becoming part of the National Aquatic Centre for Brisbane 2032.

While this chapter closes, the legacy of Centenary Pool will continue through the people, memories and generations shaped by this remarkable place.

Thank you to everyone who has been part of the Centenary Pool community — past and present.

Here’s to 67 years of memories, an incredible legacy, and the next generation yet to come. 🏊‍♀️💙