The planned $138 million Canberra Aquatic Centre in Commonwealth Park appears set to open without a dedicated dive pool or diving boards, according to newly released tender documents, sparking fury among users of the current Civic facility who feel misled by the consultation process.
Broken Promises and a Missing Facility
The ACT government has called for expressions of interest from contractors to design and build the new centre, with construction slated for 2027 and 2028. The facility, funded by both Commonwealth and ACT money, is intended to replace the ageing Canberra Olympic Pool in Civic, which will be demolished for a new entertainment and convention precinct.
The tender specifications call for an all-weather indoor 50-metre pool, a program pool for lessons, change rooms, and an outdoor splash park. However, the conspicuous absence of any mention of a deep dive pool has devastated the community that relies on the current Civic pool's five-metre-deep tank.
Louise Watson, vice-president of the Friends of Canberra Olympic Pool, expressed the group's profound disappointment. "We were promised a replacement facility so we assumed they'd be replacing what we have and the dive pool is an integral part," Ms Watson said. "We did expect like for like."
Sports and Social Hub Under Threat
The omission places several aquatic sports in immediate jeopardy. Disciplines such as diving, underwater rugby, underwater hockey, and water polo all require deep water for training and competition. Their future in the national capital is now uncertain.
Underwater rugby player Abby Walsh stated she and others would consider leaving Canberra to continue their sport rather than abandon it. "The sport is just such a huge part of our lives," Ms Walsh said.
Fellow player Andy Kruse criticised the government's consultation as a sham, feeling their input at workshops was ignored. "It sounds like they are pretending to do a consultation and just announcing something anyway," he said.
The loss extends beyond organised sport. Julie Hercus, another underwater rugby player, highlighted the dive pool's irreplaceable role as a social and developmental asset for Canberra's youth. "Growing up as a kid and being able to jump off a dive board was a sense of freedom... It was really a place where you could be yourself," she said, lamenting the loss of a safe space for adventure.
Consultation Questions and Alternative Vision
Ms Watson recalled being assured during community consultations that "nothing was off the table" for the new centre. The tender documents, however, state the new facility will "effectively relocate" the aquatic facility and "consider inclusion of commensurate amenity," which users argue clearly excludes the dive pool and other features like beach volleyball courts and a gym.
Committee member Chris Ryan also raised practical concerns about parking at the Commonwealth Park site, despite its proximity to light rail, noting the area is already congested.
For many users, the better solution was always to upgrade the existing, well-loved Civic site. "This is a beautiful site with a lot of space," Ms Watson argued. "Many of us would love to have a decent aquatic facility on this site." She pointed out the dive pool's unique appeal, especially to teenagers, and called it "outrageous" that Canberra would lack a year-round dive facility.
The situation leaves sporting groups and community advocates in a state of limbo, fighting for a facility they believed was guaranteed, as the ACT government moves forward with a plan they say falls critically short of a true replacement.
