Designed to support health and wellbeing for the whole community, the Rotary Club of Bright and Alpine Shire Council this week officially opened the new outdoor fitness equipment in Bright.
Located behind the Community Centre adjacent to Railway Avenue, the new facility provides a high‑quality, accessible fitness space for residents and visitors of all ages and abilities.
The site was carefully selected for its high visibility, proximity to the rail trail and community facilities, accessible parking, and favourable shading throughout the year.
The project has been made possible through a generous donation of just over $91,000 from the Rotary Club of Bright, with Council contributing a further $80,000 towards design, foundations, landscaping and soft‑fall installation.
Alpine Shire Mayor, Cr Sarah Nicholas, said the project reflects the strong, community-wide outcomes that can be achieved through genuine community partnerships, including collaboration to find the best way forward.
"This new outdoor fitness space is a fantastic example of Council and community organisations working together to improve health and wellbeing across Alpine Shire,” she said.
“Thanks to the Rotary Club of Bright’s incredible contribution, this area will support active lifestyles and be enjoyed by locals and visitors for many years to come.”
The fitness equipment has been supplied by Kompan Pty Ltd and features an adjustable weight‑resistance system, offering an outdoor workout experience similar to indoor gym equipment and suitable for a wide range of fitness levels.
Rotary Club of Bright President, Phil Keegan, said the project was driven by a clear community need.
“The Rotary Club of Bright had identified and become aware of the inequity and lack of fitness equipment in the Bright community,” he said.
“The main motivation for our Club was to improve the health and wellbeing for all ages in our community.”
Mr Keegan also highlighted the collaborative nature of the project and the community effort behind Rotary’s contribution, with future partnerships to come.
“Our contribution came from a lot of time and effort, from our members, friends of Rotary - this is what our community has done to get this here today.
“In the springtime, in partnership with Alpine Health and Gateway Health, there will be free classes run by an accredited Exercise Physiologist here,” he said.
“We would like to thank Alpine Shire Council, Shane Westaway (Kompan), and Matthew Zagorski (Council) - but most importantly, our Chairperson Community, Leanne Poyner, for her tireless dedication in getting this Project done.”
The new outdoor fitness equipment can now be enjoyed by community members and visitors throughout the day, providing a welcoming space to be active and enjoy the Shire's outdoor lifestyle.