Deakin Pool goes kaput early

I am not entirely sure what you are trying to say Loretta, although various government people saying different things is only confusing me more.

This CT story suggests that the owner of the current pool site wants to develop a new pool complex. Which is great. But is says he want to do it on ACT government land, which I can only assume would leave him free to develop the current pool block.

That said, I wouldn’t be against that, so long as the ACT government had a suitable contract in place so that it doesn’t get screwed over for an individuals profit.

Sorry for my comments regarding whingers, however im sick of the tall poppy syndrome, if you look at what the owners have done to the old run down sports centre and if you have wandered through for a look you would have to agree that what is there now looks much nicer than an old run down empty building..

Wrong wrong wrong, as you are aware there is an empty block of land on the corner site, the issue is to do with this site not the already developed office.. Which it is my understanding Mr Andrew Barr will be retracting his comments in regards to his wrong accusations.. The community should be backing the owners requests to develop a new pool site which has been happening, if you heard in the media the owner went to the government in 2005 to seek help in developing a new facility, the government has handed over millions to other pool operators??..

Deakin Swimming should not have been taking money from patrons if they knew there business was going under, they should be held responsible..

That’s my impression too. But then remember the Watson/Canberry Fair site – zoned for tourism / community greenspace only, b ut allowed to deteriorate over a decade, til the govt agree it would be better off as units.

Who does actually own the deakin pool, site?

Firstly the owner cannot do units on this site, if you were regular swimmers at the pool you wouldve noticed that there were plans in the reception area of a new pool to be developed on the car park site. Therefore the owner was active in seeking a better facility for you whingers.. I also noticed when swimming at the centre there were regular maintenance people working on the pool, the pool did not close from OHS issues…

This is an interesting post, and sounds like someone a little closer to the issue then the rest of us.
From what I have gathered, there appears to have been some debate between the owner (of the site) and the lessor (person running pool business), concerning what maintenance need to be done in order for the pool to remain open.

I also understand that previous development on the site was part of an agreement that a public pool would be located there. This presumably leaves the owner in a position where they have to include a pool in any redevelopment. Unless of course they can *convince* the ACT government to change the development deal.

Anyone care to comment on/correct my impression of the situation?

Also governement can not insist to sell a privately owned pool, i think the public servants of canberra forget the facility is privately owned and if you have read in the media Deakin swimming should be lucky that the owner opened his doors when they got kicked out of Deakin Health Spa and handed them a profiable business.

Firstly the owner cannot do units on this site, if you were regular swimmers at the pool you wouldve noticed that there were plans in the reception area of a new pool to be developed on the car park site. Therefore the owner was active in seeking a better facility for you whingers.. I also noticed when swimming at the centre there were regular maintenance people working on the pool, the pool did not close from OHS issues…

It sounds like this one has been allowed to fail, in order for the owner to make a motza out of townhouses in prime Deakin real estate. And they will include a few token aged care units, so that anyone who complains looks like a prat.

I think the govt should insist it go up for sale as a pool, and see if someone wants it. If they got plenty of swimmers while the pool was virtually disintegrating around people, then imagine how well they could do if the place was nice.

The government already owns and subsidises enough pools in town – it is a bit rich of the opposition to be asking the Government to come in on its white horse and rescue Deakin just because the owner didn’t reinvest in his asset. It is sad and inconvenient and it is a great loss to the community that uses it but sometimes businesses fail.

pmm said :

quostatus said :

Any suggestions for replacement lunch time activities in Deakin where the workplace doesn’t have a shower.

Visit the mint?

Woo Hoo! Yee hah!

The owner of the pool (not the lessee) has been curiously uncontactable by the media for the last few days- and very guarded about the future of the site before that, so the odds are shortening that he’s got a redevelopment proposal up his sleeve. Which is probably not surprising since the costs of running a pool must be significant, and even 1500 swimmers a week may not provide sufficient revenue to cover the cost of heating, staffing and maintenance.

quostatus said :

Any suggestions for replacement lunch time activities in Deakin where the workplace doesn’t have a shower.

Visit the mint?

colourful sydney racing identity said :

That would have to be the worst press release I have ever seen. Perhaps we can run a competition to see who can spot the most errors in spelling and/or grammar? Your time begins…now.

Perhaps Tosspot’s been spending too much time with the soccer crowd and not enough time on remedial English. Memo Steve – the Reading Writing Hotline is 1300 655 506.

Closing early? The pool has been going downhill for years. Maybe if they had done some routine maintenance then they wouldn’t have had the business destroying costs to refurbish now.

Stopped going long ago, unfortunately Phillip and Manuka close this week.

justbands said :

> Isn’t there a Fitness First gym in Deakin? Maybe you could try that instead

There’s no pool there.

There mightn’t be a pool but there are plenty of other activities for exercising during the lunchbrak. PLUS they have showers for after.

The pool is gone from Deakin Health Spa and it is Oasis that has now closed.

This closure actually isn’t very cool. Heaps of people who can’t go to the gym and need to exercise in an aquatic space are going to be left high and dry by the current pool situation. With Erindale closing for refurb and Phillip being outdoors, it’s acutally a great deal of people in the Inner south, Woden, Weston Creek and Central Tuggies areas that are going to be without facilities for some time.
It seems the current governments thinking is to sell off land to property developers who build apartments with pools underneath for the lucky few above to (pay to) use and thus privatise the issue.

Wasn’t there Deakin Health Spa and Oasis in Deakin?

> Isn’t there a Fitness First gym in Deakin? Maybe you could try that instead

There’s no pool there.

That would have to be the worst press release I have ever seen. Perhaps we can run a competition to see who can spot the most errors in spelling and/or grammar? Your time begins…now.

Isn’t there a Fitness First gym in Deakin? Maybe you could try that instead.

That’s a doozy of a press release. Is Steve getting random passing homeless people to write them for him?

Damn – there goes my lunch time activity. At least I might get rid of the nasty cough I have had since I started swimming at Deakin. Any suggestions for replacement lunch time activities in Deakin where the workplace doesn’t have a shower.

Actually, now I think about it, it may have been the Cannons they sponsored – they really needed the money!

Yep, when swimming you always felt like the roof may fall down on you at any time but I still went there.

Back in the Kate Carnell days there was talk of the Canberra Southern Cross Club attempting to buy the Phillip outdoor pool and put a roof over it. There was supposed to be some sort of agreement that if the club sponsored the Canberra Capitals (which they did) that Kate would look kindly upon them next time the lease for the pool was up. Never happened, wish it had!

I think the fact they still had 1500 swimmers weekly, despite the mouldy state of the changerooms and the ancient pool demonstrates a need for a pool.

I hope this isn’t going to turn into yet more units.