Last week, we discussed the plans by both the Labor and Liberal parties to demolish the Civic pool to make way for a new national convention centre.
Both want to build a replacement aquatic centre in Commonwealth Park.
The people who actually use the Canberra Olympic Pool are not necessarily on board with the plan. Many want the current site retained and upgraded. "Cinderella treatment for this fab site ... not demolition," wrote one person on the Friends of Canberra Olympic Facebook page.
The Friends have also asked the Greens, the Labor party's partner in government, for "an unequivocal commitment to retaining the existing Canberra Olympic Pool on the current site". The Greens could not.
In response the Greens told the Friends: "While the ACT Greens agree that the Canberra Olympic Pool has been a fantastic fixture in the Canberra community and remains close to the heart of many, we cannot provide an unequivocal commitment to retaining the existing Canberra Olympic Pool on the current site. Our decision to retain the pool on the existing site would be subject to the feasibility of maintaining it in good condition, and keeping it safe, accessible and vibrant for the community. We understand this is a challenge that compounds as the current Canberra Olympic Pool facility ages. The ACT Greens have no alternate plans for the site of the pool at present."
The ACT Greens say they are also "yet to form a strong view about where a replacement facility should be constructed".
"Such a decision would be based on reviewing the future viability of the current site and its facilities. Any decision on a new facility site would need to be subject to proper community consultation and a feasibility study," they said.
The Greens gave a similar answer to The Canberra Times: "The ACT Greens are committed to maintaining a public aquatic facility in the city centre. While we recognise the Canberra Olympic Pool's importance to the community, we cannot guarantee its retention at the current site without assessing its feasibility for safe and accessible use. Currently, we have no alternative plans for the site.
"We are however committed to securing adequate funding for all sporting infrastructure in the ACT, including aquatic facilities. Therefore, we would strongly advocate for the establishment of a 50m Olympic-standard pool, a dive pool, and a children's wading pool."
The Greens were also asked for a comment about the future of the Phillip pool, privately-run now by property developer Geocon and likely to be replaced by another tower of units with only a 25-metre pool.
"The change to a 25m pool was agreed to by the previous term's Assembly as a variation to the lease conditions for that block," the Greens said. "The ACT Greens have heard significant feedback from the community that they still want a 50m public pool, but they also want a number of other features that will ensure it can meet community needs and remains viable well into the future.
"The existing outdoor pool, which was constructed 50 years ago and needs significant maintenance work, could be replaced by a new 50m public pool that is owned by ACT Government. Perhaps one that is planned with community consultation to ensure it meets contemporary needs."
More about ageing infrastructure. The North Sydney Olympic Pool opened in 1936, nearly 20 years before the Canberra Olympic Pool, and is now being refurbished. Seriously, what is wrong with improving what we already have?
