Participation data and what it tells us about local fitness culture

New data from Bendigo City Council records 28,400 residents enrolled in organised fitness and sports programs for the 2025-26 year, up from 23,900 the year before.

The increase arrives as schools finish their winter terms and community clubs prepare summer schedules, reflecting a steady post-pandemic recovery in local habits rather than any single event.

Residents in the Quarry Hill area have driven much of the growth through twice-weekly sessions at the Bendigo Regional Sports Complex on View Street, while the Active Bendigo walking groups meet every Tuesday and Thursday morning along the paths around Lake Weeroona.

Numbers behind the trend

The council report dated 8 July 2026 lists an average program fee of $120 for a 12-week term and notes that 41 percent of participants are aged between 35 and 54, a shift from earlier years when junior numbers dominated the registers.

Clubs report that membership at the Strathfieldsaye Sports Complex has risen by 620 people since January, with netball and touch football drawing the largest share of new sign-ups.

These patterns point to a fitness culture that now mixes structured team sport with lower-cost outdoor options available on public paths and reserves.

Next steps for residents

Anyone wanting to join can register through the council website or at the front desk of the Bendigo Regional Sports Complex before the next intake opens on 20 July.

Current members at the Lake Weeroona groups receive priority for the limited places in the August block, which costs $85 for eight guided walks.