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Last modified: 17 Aug 2021 8:15am

A fitness class at Selwyn Sports Centre

Sport and recreation is seeing a boom across Selwyn as growing numbers enjoy Council sport and recreation offerings.

Canterbury’s largest indoor sports arena, the Selwyn Sports Centre, has been at the forefront of the increase in people taking part in sport and recreation at Council facilities. More than 127,000 have visited the centre in its first three months since opening.

There have been over 7800 attendees in group fitness classes every month and the centre has added virtual classes and is training three new instructors to keep up with demand.

“It is absolutely fantastic seeing how much the community have jumped on board with the centre and what we have to offer. One major contributing factor is the team here who are providing a professional, active and happy experience for those that come into the Centre,” Selwyn Sports Centre Manager Dave Tippett says.

The Selwyn Aquatic Centre also saw almost 100,000 more visits from users, with people making just over 414,000 visits to the pools from 1 July 2020 to 30 June 2021.

Aquafitness classes at the centre almost doubled, with an extra 3895 class attendees over the same time, up 89% compared to the previous 12 months.

Learn to Swim classes were also booming with an extra 7509 enrolments, up 38% on the previous 12 months.

Numbers are likely to keep growing with the addition of the new 25 metre pool, which opened in June. Final renovations at the centre are expected to be complete by the end of the year.

The number of people taking part in recreation programmes also grew at the Lincoln Event Centre, West Melton Community and Recreation Centre and Rolleston Community Centre, with an addition 7,238 class participants compared to the previous year.

Council Active Selwyn Manager James Richmond said it was heartening how the community was enjoying the facilities.

“It’s really encouraging to see the Council’s investment in sport and recreation being so well received by the community. It’s great to see the usage numbers continuing to climb and with that, increasing the physical and social wellbeing of so many in the district.”