Belgravia Health and Leisure Group is due to take over the pool next week following Redland City Council’s decision to overlook the Urquhart family in its latest tender.

It will be the third time management at the Cleveland pool has changed hands in the last three years. The new operator runs 50 leisure centres across Australia, including seven pools in South East Queensland.

David Urquhart, who previously coached Olympic gold medallist Ashley Callus, said he would leave the facility next Monday after failing in his bid to win a new lease.

Mr Urquhart ran the pool for 22 years until the council awarded a 15-year contract to Loudoun Aquatic in 2005.

When the new contract was axed a year later, the Urquhart family won a management contract pending another tender process this year.

“We applied for it – we were hopeful we’d get it back,” Mr Urquhart said.

“We feel disappointed and probably a little bit remiss in that we came back again (in 2006) and got the pool running smoothly again.”

Councillors voted in line with advice from council officers to accept Belgravia’s tender application, over three other applicants. Unsuccessful applicants included YMCA Brisbane and Air Bubbles.

Belgravia will be paid more than $1.4 million in total running fees over the next six years, plus a $200,000 contribution for capital costs.

Mayor Melva Hobson said the company had committed to meet community needs and “maximise participation of all programs and services”. The pool is currently closed for maintenance and the reopening date is unclear.

Mr Urquhart – whose son Chris has been coaching Callus ahead of the Beijing Olympics – said swimming and aqua-aerobics programs had only been booked until June 30 so no one should be left out of pocket.

However, Cleveland resident Wilf Small said he had paid $420 for lane hire during July.

Council says the pool should reopen under the new management on Thursday, July 17.

A Belgravia spokeswoman declined to comment on the new contract pending a meeting with the council next week.

Mr Urquhart recently took over management of two pools in Ipswich and will focus on his new role as Swimming Australia president.