ACT Greens MLA for Ginninderra Jo Clay has today reignited community calls for the ACT Government to support Big Splash to reopen next summer.
The motion will commit the ACT Government to compliance action in accordance with the provisions of the Crown Lease, take action to help the pool open next summer, keep the community informed, and ensure that the site will remain a pool that the community can use.
Ms Clay said today's motion will reassure Canberra that Big Splash will remain a pool, following community rumours that the site will be redeveloped, and place pressure for the pool to reopen this coming summer.
"Growing up in Canberra, Big Splash has always been the place to be during summer. It's fun, keeps you active and is the best place for birthday parties," Ms Clay said.
"We don't have a community pool like this anywhere else in Canberra. It is an icon, beloved by the community and deserves the ACT Government to do everything possible to help it open next summer.
"The community is rightly concerned about the pool's future. Despite being told repairs would occur and it would be open over summer, it hasn't. The community has been left in the dark and the pool appears to be trashed and completely neglected.
"Community pools are core government business which is why the Greens have called for the ACT Government to ensure Big Splash can open later this year and to keep the community regularly informed on what is happening.
"Just this summer we saw numerous waterways close across the ACT due to bacteria. As our summers continue to get hotter, we need places that are accessible and safe for people to swim."
This motion follows a community petition, backed by Ms Clay, to investigate all possible avenues to keep the facility open for use, including buying the facility and operating it as a public pool; and guarantee that the zoning of the land is retained to ensure it remains a community facility for future generations. The Government's response is due back to the Assembly by 26 June 2025.
