Mon, Jun 24, 2024 7:00 AM

Community gym expansion for growing numbers

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Eloise Martyn

A Brightwater community gym has had to undertake major renovations to help it accommodate the more than 200 people who now come through its doors each week.

Taylors Contracting Wanderers Gym now sees over 100 seniors, 49 ladies, and 76 individual members every week, and has completed stage one of the project which will help it keep up with the consistent growth.

Stage one has recently been completed with three unisex toilets, two showers, an accessibility bathroom, accessibility entrances, and accessibility parking.

The important supporting work undertaken consists of new or improved drain-laying for sewage, wastewater, and stormwater, moving to gas, and improvements to the switchboard.

“The Rata Foundation was the major funder of this work,” Wanderers Community Sports Club general manager Jimmy van der Colk says.

“Even so, finding a builder was difficult as the budget was small and work required significant.

“We are very pleased with the work of Callum Rogers of Rogers Build who took on the project and played a central role in getting stage one across the line,” he says.

“We aren’t finished just yet. We hope to complete stage two by the end of the year but, as always, this is reliant on funding.

“Wanderers sees the community gym as important because it offers social connection and a sense of belonging, in addition to improved health.

“The seniors’ classes in particular have rapidly growing numbers and the space is no longer fit for purpose.

“We have made a plan and are adjusting it to suit now and into the future.”

Stage two consists of demolishing an existing kitchen and old bathroom to create more gym floor space.

The gym schedule can be found here.

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