News

Frankston facilities PARC and Pines win big at State Awards

Peninsula Leisure and Frankston City Council are celebrating an outstanding result at the 2025 Aquatics & Recreation Victoria (ARV) Awards, with local facilities Peninsula Aquatic Recreation Centre (PARC) and Pines Forest Aquatic Centre (PINES) taking out three major awards.

PINES outdoor pool was awarded Facility of the Year (Seasonal), while PARC claimed Facility of the Year (Large) and the prestigious Sustainability Award.

These awards are the highest honours in Victoria’s aquatics and recreation sector, recognising excellence in community facility management, customer experience, safety and aquatic operations. This year’s program saw 237 nominations across 21 categories, judged by 74 industry leaders across the State.

Frankston City Council CEO Phil Cantillon said the wins reflect the strong partnership between Council and Peninsula Leisure.

“PARC and PINES are more than just pools, they’re welcoming community places for Frankston’s health and wellbeing,” Mr Cantillon said. “To see PARC continue to lead the way by taking out Facility of the Year again is a real testament to the work that goes on behind the scenes to keep these assets at their best.”

Peninsula Leisure CEO Kath Thom said the recognition highlights the team’s commitment to excellence.

“To win Facility of the Year for both centres again is something really special,” Ms Thom said. “And being awarded for sustainability too shows our focus on delivering not just great experiences, but a better future.”

This marks the second time Peninsula Leisure has achieved dual Facility of the Year awards for PARC and PINES in the one year, having previously done so in 2022.

Peninsula Leisure and Frankston City Council would like to acknowledge the many dedicated teams – across Peninsula Leisure and Council – whose passion and expertise ensure these Centres continue to thrive.

Together, we have created more than just leisure facilities – PARC and Pines are trusted, inclusive spaces where people of all ages and abilities can come together, improve their health and wellbeing, and feel a sense of belonging. These awards are a celebration of that shared commitment to making Frankston a healthier, more connected and more active community.

Share this article

Aussie! Aussie! Aussie! 💚💛

This week, our PARC Swim team have organised some Commonwealth Games themed fun, to celebrate our Aussie athletes, who are absolutely dominating this year! 🥇

To celebrate, our PARC Swim teachers will include a small segment in this week’s lessons, using our snakes and ladders game, aligning a swimming activity with a participating sporting event 🏊🏃

Make sure to check out our activity table, and show support for Australia, or any other participating country by wearing their colours to your lesson this week! 
Have you heard of Habit Stacking? 🤔

It's a great way to add movement into your day by pairing small exercises with habits you already do - helping you be active and achieve 30-20-2, even when life is busy!

You can incorporate simple exercises into your daily task, such as:
- Squats while the kettle boils - turn waiting time into movement time.
- Calf raises while brushing your teeth - two minutes of strength, twice a day.
- Lunges down the hallway - every trip becomes a mini workout.
- Marching on the spot while folding laundry- complete some of your vigorous or moderate exercise every trip.
- Glute squeezes while sitting at your desk - perfect for busy workdays.

Remember, all movement counts 🙌

For more information about 30-20-2, or helpful resources and workouts to get you moving, head to our Digital Hub.
We go wherever the wind takes us, and it always leads us back here 🩵
World Drowning Prevention Day is coming up this week, it's never too late to learn how to swim! 

Expressions of Interest are open for two fully subsidised Can Swim community programs for
🏊 Teens 
🏊 Adults 

Our 5-week intensive Can Swim programs are for Teens and Adults who have never learnt how to swim. Participants will gain confidence around the water and learn essential water safety and survival skills.

📅 5 Week Can Swim Programs, commencing Monday 17 August 
🏊 Who: Two Programs, one is for Teenagers aged 13-17 and the other is Adults aged 18+, with little to no swimming experience or confidence
🕣 Commitment: 1x 45minute session per week, over 5 weeks 
🩵 Cost: Fully subsidised by Peninsula Leisure and Frankston City Council

Expression of interest opened Monday 20 July and will be closing Sunday 9 August. Visit Peninsula Leisure’s website, via the link in our bio, for more information.
Have you heard about our Nourish Appointments? 🥗🥩

These appoinments are complimentary for all Full Access members, and are great if you are looking for support around healthy food choices, macro nutrients and goal setting. 

In these sessions we start with food basics by looking at how you are currently fuelling your body, and you’ll learn about macros, food groups, and the Australian Dietary Guidelines to improve your diet for your goals. 

Book your Nourish appointment via the Customer Portal or Xplor App today.
A friendly reminder that your PARC parking permit may be due to expire at the end of July. Please visit our friendly reception team to update your permit. 🎫

We’d also like to remind you to ensure your permit is placed correctly in the front left-hand side of your dashboard, with the expiration date facing upwards. ⬆️

Thank you for your continued cooperation and we hope to see you back in Centre soon!

#parcfrankston
Are you, or a loved one, having or had a baby this year? 👶🩵

Gift a timeless tribute of your loved one in the form of a tree and plaque at Rotary Peninsula 2.0’s 2026 Birth Tree. By participating in the Birth Tree, your contribution will go directly to funding Infant Can Swim water safety programs. 

Buy your Birth Tree name via the link in our bio.

Recent articles