Million-dollar gym opens in Toogoolawah

For its size, the town has a lot of sport infrastructure, demonstrating the passion regional Queenslanders have for sport and recreational activities.

Toogoolawah has a 9-hole golf course, three outdoor artificial tennis courts, a cricket oval, a skate park, and an eight-lane bowling green.

It also has a gym, first opened in 2011.

But the gym was tiny – 56 square metres, housed in what was formerly a Girl Guides’ hut.

It could only hold a maximum of 12 people at any given time.

The issue was it was popular, attracting about 300 visits a month.

Somerset Regional Council made the decision in 2019 to construct a new Toogoolawah Community Gym following growing demand by residents for a bigger and better facility.

Construction took about eight months, employing about five full-time workers. Total costs were over $1 million.

Seeing what a new gym meant to the local community, the Queensland Government got behind it, approving over $800,000 through the Active Community Infrastructure program with Somerset Regional Council providing $200,000.

The project also saw electric heaters installed at the adjoining Toogoolawah Swimming Pool to ensure greater swimming temperatures for patrons – as well as landscaping works.

Somerset Mayor Graeme Lehmann said the old gym had minimal gym equipment due to space constraints – just some strength equipment.

“We procured 18 pieces of additional gym equipment for the new gym, including cardio, benches, and muscle motion trainers,” Cr Lehmann said.

“The new gym will have a big impact on the Somerset community. We estimate that there will be a significant increase in gym usage, with a strong uptake of younger residents too.

“That’s good for helping our residents’ young, and old, to keep fit and active, with all the physical and mental health benefits.”

Cr Lehmann said Council was also building a water-play splash pad on the eastern side of the Toogoolawah Swimming Pool.

“The swimming pool is currently closed for the season. When the facility reopens in September, the Toogoolawah Swimming Pool and the Toogoolawah Community Gym will operate as a sports precinct, supporting active and healthy lifestyles.

“Council believes a single recreational facility offers a better outcome for Toogoolawah and surrounding districts.”

The new 270 square metre gym is almost five times the size of the old gym and can hold a maximum of 35 people at any given time.

It has 24-hour swipe access, two large multipurpose rooms, three toilets, air-conditioning, significant storage space, a kiosk and a terrace overlooking the adjoining pool.

The Active Community Infrastructure program aims to provide fit-for-purpose infrastructure to communities that need it the most.

The program is part of the Queensland Government’s Activate! Queensland strategy to empower more Queenslanders to enjoy physical activity and improve their health and well-being.

The program has provided $15.8 million in funding to 21 projects across the state.

A 2020 study by the Sport Industry Research Centre at Sheffield Hallam University in the United Kingdom found that investing in community sport and physical activity played an important role in boosting the economy and helped level up inequalities within communities as well as build a healthier, happier and more prosperous society.

The study found that for every pound Sterling spent on community sport and physical activity, it generated nearly four pounds for the English economy and society.

In Australian dollar terms – it translates that for every $1.75 spent on community sport and recreation, $7 comes back to the community.