Community consultation shapes new Canberra aquatic and recreation centre

The ACT Government has announced details of the Stromlo Leisure Centre, a new aquatic and recreation centre to be located in the Stromlo Forest Park in Canberra's west.

Set to open in 2020, the $36.6 million facility will include a 50-metre lap pool and leisure pool at its core, with community consultation leading to the inclusion of an aquatic playground, gym and outdoor parklands in its design.

Plans for an indoor pool at Stromlo have been under consideration for much of the past decade, with the facility being designed to serve around 70,000 people in Weston Creek, Woden and the growing Molonglo Valley.

In 2016 and 2017, the ACT Government asked the public to share their thoughts on what facilities the new pool should include.

ACT Sport and Recreation Minister Yvette Berry explained that “it's great that the community have been so engaged with the process and the government has been able to respond to the feedback with these additional facilities.

"Having spoken to future users of the facilities such as Triathlon ACT, and factoring in the 705 online submissions, I'm confident this pool will now be an important asset for the Canberra community."

As well as the eight-lane 500 pool, the leisure pool will be more than 200 square metes in size and include a toddlers pool.

The gym will be at least 700 metre², with cardio equipment, pin-loaded weights, functional training, free weights as well as a group fitness studio. The gym area will also have its own dry change rooms - male, female and unisex.

The development of the facility, being designed by Cox Architecture, is to be the beginning of Stromlo Forest Park's evolution into a vibrant sport and recreation precinct.

The ACT Government is set to begin feasibility planning to build accommodation in the park for interstate visitors who come to Canberra for events there, with a cycling track and sports fields also being planned under "long-term funding considerations”.

Minister Berry added "the creation of the Stromlo Leisure Centre is part of the Stromlo Forest Park Master Plan - which is already seeing this beautiful part of Canberra become a thriving sport and recreation precinct.

"Stromlo Forest Park boasts world-class mountain bike trails, a criterium circuit, running track, equestrian trails, spectator stands and parts of the container village that have been relocated from West Basin."

A statement from Cox Architecture advises “this is a prime example of the importance of community consultation in the development of public infrastructure. It’s always an honour to work on projects of such overt public benefit; in this instance it’s coupled with our particular passion and specialisation for sporting architecture.”

Commenting on the design, Cox added “the facility siting takes full advantage of the expansive views across the Molonglo valley, with the key functions including café, pool hall and gym enjoying the benefits. The building arrangement cleverly breaks the scale of the building down to pool hall and ancillary facilities, and is recessed into the hill to further reduce its apparent scale by nestling into the natural setting with a subdued colour palette.

“The concept unifies the exterior landscape with interior treatment to blur the boundary between without and within. The innovative use of glulam timber structure also provides a warm and welcoming character to the interior.”

Images: Artist’s impressions of the new Stromlo Leisure Centre. Courtesy of Cox Architecture. 

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