Client: Muswellbrook Shire Council
Timeframe: December 2025 to June 2026

LARCAN was engaged by Muswellbrook Shire Council to deliver a comprehensive service review and business planning process for the Muswellbrook Aquatic and Fitness Centre (MAFC) and Denman Memorial Pool. The project focuses on assessing current operations and transitioning the facilities towards improved operational performance, financial sustainability, and long-term service delivery. The engagement combines detailed analysis, strategic planning, and stakeholder coordination to provide Council with a clear, evidence-based pathway to optimise operations, enhance community outcomes, and support future investment decisions.

The project responds to Council’s recent upgrades to MAFC and the need to maximise the value of this investment through improved utilisation, programming, and operational efficiency. It also addresses broader strategic objectives to improve service levels, increase participation, and deliver recreation facilities that meet evolving community needs across the Shire.

Key services included:

• Comprehensive review of current operations, including staffing, programming, systems, revenue streams, asset utilisation, and risk management.

• Development of a detailed operational business plan, including clear actions, revenue optimisation strategies, and performance targets.

• Establishment and review of risk management frameworks, with a focus on safety, compliance, and alignment with industry standards.

• Assessment of financial performance and sustainability, including identification of opportunities to reduce operational subsidy and improve efficiency.

• Evaluation of the Denman Memorial Pool’s operational model and long-term viability, including cost-benefit analysis and future service options.

• Investigation of alternative operating models and benchmarking against comparable aquatic and leisure facilities.

• Identification of opportunities to increase facility activation through programming, partnerships, and improved utilisation.

• Review of asset management considerations, capital investment priorities, and lifecycle implications.

• Stakeholder engagement with Council staff, user groups, and the community to inform service improvements and future direction.

• Preparation of a Draft and Final Business Plan, providing Council with a clear, actionable roadmap to support sustainable, safe, and high-performing aquatic services.