ACT Labor pledge to build new central Canberra aquatic centre if re-elected

ACT Labor has pledged to build a new Canberra Aquatic Centre in the city's Commonwealth Park to replace the ageing Canberra Olympic Pool in the suburb of Civic if they assume government after next month's elections to the Australian Capital Territory Legislative Assembly.

With the Canberra Olympic Pool set to be demolished and a new Convention and Entertainment Centre built on the site, ACT Labor is reported to have secured support for the land use from the Federal Government to build the new facility on Commonwealth land.

The project will include a 50-metre pool, a program pool for swimming lessons and an aquatic play area but will not replicate the diving facility at the current Canberra Olympic Pool.

If returned to office after the 19th October territory election, ACT Labor says it will start construction of the new facility in its next term of government.

A spokesperson for ACT Labor said its would complete a detailed design for the facility in the first half of the new term, aiming for construction procurement to commence shortly after, advising "we will work in collaboration with the National Capital Authority on all necessary steps for the project."

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 Canberra Olympic 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.

The spokesperson added “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."

ACT Chief Minister Andrew Barr and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese are expected to announce the 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.

In its early years, 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.

Image: Canberra Olympic Pool.