Geocon announces plans for brand-new aquatic centre in Woden

The 50-metre outdoor pool in Woden will live on … for a few more seasons, at least.

After months of speculation, Geocon has confirmed its plans for the high-profile site between Melrose Drive and Irving Street, and there’s bittersweet news.

Canberra’s biggest developer bought the site in early January 2023 across the road from its WOVA development, and immediately, the likes of the Woden Valley Community Council and ‘Save Phillip Pool’ lobby group feared the public pool would be sacrificed for apartments.

Under the site’s lease conditions, Geocon is required to maintain some sort of pool, and it has now confirmed what this would look like.

The first of three stages of construction will include two 13-storey towers made up of 286 apartments, as well as a rooftop outdoor entertainment area for residents.

In stage one, on the ground floor, there’ll be a public aquatic centre with a 25-metre, eight-lane indoor lap pool as its centrepiece.

Geocon says it will also be accompanied by a splash pad, learn-to-swim area, toddlers’ swimming area, leisure swimming area, “program pool with relaxation area”, a steam and sauna room, café, as well as an outdoor water play/splash pad and entertainment area.

The first of four levels of basement parking will also be allocated to pool users, with 54 car spaces available.

Stages 2 and 3 will then follow, at which point the current 50-metre pool will be “decommissioned” to make way for additional towers.

“We’ve carefully considered the way the project’s going to be staged, so once the new aquatic facility is built and delivered, we can then decommission the 50-metre outdoor pool,” senior development manager Jack Ison says.

“Basically, the whole emphasis has been trying to keep as many of the community facilities online as possible.

“We’re expecting construction may take up to 20 months so the outdoor pool will remain open for another few seasons.”

COX Architecture has been contracted for the design and Arcadia for the landscaping, while Geocon will also talk with MLEI Consulting Engineers, which has “very extensive experience with aquatic facilities”.

Mr Ison says they’re making a conscious effort to “let in as much natural light as possible” by including glazing all around the sides and a large skylight over the 25-metre pool, looking up between the two towers.

The outdoor area will also include seating options and an area for sunbathers set among trees and lawn.

Meanwhile, it will be “business as usual” for the Phillip Ice-Skating Centre for the foreseeable future, at least until Tuggeranong’s new ice-skating centre, the Canberra Arena, eventuates.

Since purchasing it, Geocon has made “significant improvements” to the Phillip facility, including upgraded grandstands and new signage.

“We’re just trying to make the place better – we’re putting a lot of effort into that,” Mr Ison says.

“And we’ve received a fair bit of community feedback that the guys there are doing a pretty good job.”

The development application will be released for public feedback on 21 November on the ACT Government’s Planning website.

Visit Woden Pool for more information.