Double Award Win! Yawa Recognised as a Leader in Safety and Sustainability

Leading the way in safety and sustainability, Yawa Aquatic Centre has just taken out two major awards at the 2025 Belgravia Leisure Awards. Recognised for excellence in health and safety and environment and sustainability, Yawa Aquatic Centre continues to set the standard for what it means to be a truly community-first venue, keeping locals fit, safe and green. 

Since opening its doors in 2021, Yawa has built a strong safety culture with a strong adherence to Belgravia Leisure's Think Safe, Act Safe, Be Safe methodology. The venue scored a 100% compliance rating and a 98.5% safety score in the most recent Life Saving Victoria Pool Safety Audit, maintaining its prestigious Platinum Pool endorsement, a mark of excellence in aquatic safety. 

It’s not only about scores, Yawa makes a real-life impact in the community. In July 2024, the Yawa team sprang into action when 17-year-old Austin suffered a cardiac arrest while using the gym. Thanks to their quick action, CPR and use of a defibrillator, Austin made a full recovery and remarkably was back at the gym just three months later. That’s the kind of care that turns a venue into a lifeline. 

Yawa’s lifeguards are also setting the standard. Over 1,500 lifeguard observations were conducted to ensure top-tier supervision and continuous improvement. Yawa played a key role in helping Belgravia Leisure develop and roll out this observation process across all its venues. 

On the sustainability front, Yawa is turning heads with some seriously impressive eco-initiatives, including: 

• 916 solar panels power around 50% of the centre, saving $100,000 and cutting 400 tonnes of CO₂ every year. 
• A 100kL rainwater harvesting system helps reduce reliance on drinking water. 
• A high-efficiency boiler heats two million litres of pool water daily. 
• Smart lighting and ventilation systems respond to weather and occupancy, keeping energy use low. 
• Waste is sorted, composted and recycled, with 80kg of food and packaging composted weekly at Gadara Farm.  
• Sustainability partnerships with Zero Waste Mornington Peninsula and Boomerang Alliance. 

Elements Eatery, Yawa’s on-site café, is a sustainability superstar. From compostable packaging and discounts for reusable cups to a kitchen garden and 99% locally sourced goods, it’s a delicious example of sustainable practice. 

One of only two leisure centres in Australia with science-based emissions tracking, Yawa’s performance benchmarks are a thing to behold. Water use per visit is just 33L, compared to the national average of 72.48L- that’s a 54% reduction. The venue's energy use intensity is also well below industry average. 

Pat Otten, Venue Manager at Yawa summed it up best, saying, “We’re incredibly proud to be recognised as leaders in safety and sustainability. These awards reflect our daily commitment to creating a safe, inclusive and environmentally responsible space for our community.” 

From lifesaving moments to everyday vigilance, Yawa Aquatic Centre is showing that safety and sustainability aren't just a priority: it’s a part of their DNA. Visit Yawa Aquatic Centre to discover what makes them Belgravia Leisure’s Health & Safety and Environment & Sustainability award winners.