Client: Willoughby City Council
Timeframe: September 2025 to Current (Estimated December 2026)

LARCAN was engaged by Willoughby City Council to deliver comprehensive project management services for the reopening of the Willoughby Leisure Centre following a major redevelopment. The project focuses on transitioning the facility from construction completion to full operational readiness, ensuring all systems, staff, programs, and processes are in place to support a safe, efficient, and community-focused reopening. The engagement combines detailed project planning, operational readiness, and stakeholder coordination to provide Council with a seamless pathway to reopening and long-term operational success.

Key services included:

• Development and management of detailed project plans, timelines, and budgets to guide the transition from construction to full operations.
• Establishment and ongoing management of a comprehensive risk register, identifying operational, compliance, and reputational risks and implementing mitigation strategies.
• Coordination of commissioning, handover processes, and operational readiness activities to ensure all facility systems, assets, and documentation are complete and functional prior to opening.
• Review and collation of Operations and Maintenance manuals, warranties, and asset registers to support long-term asset management and compliance.
• Oversight of start-up planning, including plant and equipment testing, water quality management, safety audits, and readiness drills.
• Support for workforce planning, recruitment, induction, and training to ensure a fully prepared and compliant staff team at opening.
• Implementation and integration of key operational systems, including membership, bookings, point-of-sale, and customer service platforms.
• Development of programming, timetables, and swim school operations aligned with community needs and facility capacity.
• Coordination of stakeholder engagement across Council departments, contractors, suppliers, and community user groups to ensure alignment and effective project delivery.
• Support for marketing, communications, and community engagement activities, including pre-sales, launch planning, and opening events.
• On-site support during commissioning, soft opening, and official opening to ensure operational readiness and immediate issue resolution.
• Provision of post-opening support to monitor performance, refine systems, and support continuous improvement.
• Preparation of a Draft and Final project delivery framework, including all plans, systems, and processes required to support a successful reopening and ongoing sustainable operation of the Willoughby Leisure Centre.