Civic pool will make way for a convention centre no matter who wins the election. Photo: The Y.
ACT Labor will build a new Canberra Aquatic Centre in Commonwealth Park to replace the ageing Civic pool after securing support for the land use from the Albanese Government.
The project will include a 50-metre pool, a program pool for swimming lessons and a splash park, but not a diving facility.
If re-elected on 19 October, Labor says it aims to start construction of the new aquatic centre in the next term of government.
The exact location is still to be worked out with the National Capital Authority, but it is understood the government has proposed a site on the left as one enters the park from the footbridge across Parkes Way from the Civic pool.
The project would free up the Civic site for the planned Convention and Entertainment Centre.
A spokesperson said a Labor government would complete a detailed design for the facility in the first half of the new term, aiming for construction procurement to commence shortly after.
“We will work in collaboration with the National Capital Authority on all necessary steps for the project,” the spokesperson said.
The spokesperson said Labor would undertake a short round of community consultation to finalise the scope of the project, with a focus on the best site to relocate the ACT’s diving facilities.
Once the new aquatic centre was complete, the ageing pool would be decommissioned, allowing for the construction of a new Convention and Entertainment Centre on the site.
Work had already commenced on planning for the City Convention and Entertainment precinct.
“Labor will conclude design and business case development on the Convention and Entertainment project in the next term of government, with an aim to have the project construction ready by the time the new pool in Commonwealth Park is complete,” the spokesperson said.
ACT Chief Minister Andrew Barr and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese will announce the new Canberra aquatic centre project at today’s ACT Labor 2024 Election Campaign Launch.
The Canberra Liberals have also said they would build a new aquatic centre in Commonwealth Park to replace the Civic pool, but they have committed to starting construction of a convention centre on that site in year three of the new term.
The Canberra Olympic Pool opened in 1955 and has been plagued by leaks and continual repairs in recent years.
The dome over the 50-metre pool was erected in 1992 and made it possible to continue swimming through the winter months.
At first, the dome came down for the summer, but in 1996, it was made permanent. In 2008, the dome was replaced as part of a $2 million refurbishment.
The site was identified as a potential site for a new stadium, but the government ruled it out last year because of size constraints and cost.
Then Chief Minister Andrew Barr announced that it would be the site of a new convention centre and 7500 to 8000-seat entertainment pavilion, with a completion date of 2033, about the same as for the stadium, now slated for Bruce. Both will need a Commonwealth contribution.
The Liberals made their announcement last week.
Either way, a new pool will have to be built.
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