It’s an exciting time here in the Goldfields with YMCA WA having approved the conversion of YMCA Kalgoorlie into a community hub.
The idea has been in the pipeline for almost a year and the renovations will see the Health and Wellness Gym change to a Community Gym and relocation to the downstairs area, which previously roomed three squash courts. This downstairs area will be transformed into three rooms; cardio, free weights and weight machines, continuing to run alongside the group fitness timetable.
With YMCA WA’s focus on community and inspiring young people, a community hall will be replacing the old gym upstairs, which will allow outside members to build their club organisations and encourage participation (in karate, dance, jiujitsu).
Coupled with these changes, effective 1 July 2019, operational hours have changed to:
Monday to Friday 9:00am to 5:00pm, closed on weekends.
These hours will have no effect on the current use of the Centre, with YMCA Kalgoorlie Outside School Hours Care, gym and programs operating as per normal.
Danny Ireland, YMCA Kalgoorlie Centre Manager, said “The upgrade to our current gym membership will allow remote access before 9am and after 5pm, ensuring all our members who want to use the space outside normal business hours, can.”
“We are really excited about becoming a community hub as we know so many more people in the area can join in and use the space. We will continue all our youth programs and look forward to becoming an even more impactful organisation for the community”.
A security upgrade will be carried out to ensure the Centre continually provides a safe environment for all members and visitors.
The centre is also opening its wall space up to local artists who may want to hang their works on consignment, with the works being able to be bought by the community.
Mr Ireland said the centre becoming more focused on community as opposed to health and wellbeing would help open it up to the wider community.
He said he was already looking at ways to expand youth services outside of Kalgoorlie-Boulder.
The transformation has already begun with majority of the work to be carried out this month, with an estimate completion date of mid-August.