The closure of Lakeside Leisure Centre at Kanahooka would be a disaster for squash, says a man who has been running squash centres in the Illawarra for 33 years.

Ross Longbottom manages Lakeside Squash Club, which relocated to the council-run Kanahooka Road leisure centre a year ago from Wollongong TAFE and boasts 100 squash players.

The city council’s citizens panel, which has released a report on the council’s financial sustainability, has recommended the closure of Lakeside Leisure Centre and sale of the land  to save $300,000 annually, due to its level of use and availability of other providers.

The centre features three squash courts, six tennis courts and a gym with close to 1000 members.

Mr Longbottom, 67, said the council had been fantastic since the squash club made the move.

‘‘We’ve built it to 100 squash players. There’s only 500 squash players left in the Illawarra compared to 5000 25 years ago,’’ he said.

‘‘For that centre to close for me after 34 years it would be the end for me because there’s nowhere else to go and of the 100 people there’s not much room anywhere else...we’d lose at least half our members.’’

Mr Longbottom said it would be a disaster for squash as well as for the leisure centre, which offers unique services for people with disabilities and the elderly, such as Heartmoves classes.

He suggested the council outsource leisure centre operations rather than closing it.

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