Alan Vogt has cherished swimming in public pools since childhood. “I had a stint as a lifeguard before doing a degree in sports studies,” he said. For Mr. Vogt, pools are more than just a place to swim. “A social hub, a place to relax, get fitness, meet up with friends. When I look back at how pools have been so important for me, I just couldn’t imagine not having public pools to enjoy.”
However, he is increasingly concerned about the future of these facilities in Canberra, following recent announcements about the redevelopment of several cherished aquatic spots. In November last year, Geocon revealed plans to replace the aging Phillip Pool with a 25-meter pool inside a residential building. Earlier this month, the owners of Big Splash announced it would not open for the summer due to the prohibitive cost of repairs.
“They’re going to either cease to be essentially what they were and be something else, and I don’t think they’ll feel as public or be what they were,” Mr. Vogt lamented. This sentiment is echoed by Friends of Manuka Pool (FoMP), a community group formed in 2016 to save the Manuka Pool from redevelopment.
Community Concerns Over Aging Infrastructure
Caroline Luke-Evered, president of FoMP, expressed her concerns about the deterioration of aquatic facilities across the capital. “The average age of a well-built pool is 50 years. The infrastructure, though around Australia, but particularly in Canberra, has not been kept up, and consequently, they’re aging, falling apart, and we will slowly see pools disappear,” she said.
Dr. Luke-Evered fears that Canberrans will witness a gradual erosion of their aquatic amenities. “At the moment, we have pools like the Erindale Leisure Centre, Tuggeranong, and Gungahlin that are coping, but the trend is that they’re going,” she noted. “It’s the same in Sydney; they are slowly going, and they go off one by one in a surreptitious way.”
Water Safety and Growing Demand
According to a report from Royal Life Saving Australia, Canberra has roughly 45,000 people per public pool, with the city hosting 10 public pools. This places Canberra fourth among capital cities in terms of public pool access, behind Darwin, Hobart, and Brisbane, but ahead of Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, and Perth.
“Governments do not see aquatic facilities as important to the community, when in fact they are. They’re very essential for a community social hub and health and wellbeing, and water safety.” – Caroline Luke-Evered
Despite this standing, Dr. Luke-Evered worries that children may not have sufficient access to pools to learn essential water safety skills. Mr. Vogt also fears that the current public pool facilities will not meet the demands of Canberra’s predicted population growth. “Pools that you would ordinarily expect to be open, like Big Splash, aren’t, and there’s no prospect of them opening soon,” he said. “I think we’ve got a dramatic shortage of public pools, and if our population grows [as predicted], we really need to be running pretty hard to build more pool infrastructure across Canberra than is currently planned.”
Impact on Local Sports and Activities
Nicolette Marks, who plays underwater rugby in Canberra, expressed her team’s frustration over plans to close Civic Pool, the only facility in the city with the appropriate depth for their sport. Earlier this year, the National Capital Authority released plans to replace the pool with an aquatic center as part of a renewal of Commonwealth Park. Public submissions for the new facility closed last month, and it remains unclear if it will include a diving facility and, consequently, a deep pool.
Ms. Marks explained that underwater rugby players are already struggling without a pool that remains open year-round and will soon lose their alternative training space in Sydney due to refurbishment. Her team, along with other local diving, water polo, and synchronized swimming teams, has been actively lobbying for the Civic Pool to remain open.
“It gives us that whole 3D range where we can actually get really physical. We do hold our breath and it is full contact. You have to grab people pretty hard to stop them.” – Nicolette Marks
Ms. Marks highlighted the challenges her team faces, noting that they regularly come close to medaling but are hindered by limited training opportunities. “Our national competition is held in May, and the pool closes at the end of March. Without having a deep pool year-round, we are disadvantaged,” she said.
Looking Ahead: The Future of Canberra’s Aquatic Facilities
The uncertainty surrounding Canberra’s public pools raises significant questions about the future of aquatic sports and community activities in the region. While redevelopment plans may promise modern amenities, the community’s attachment to existing facilities and the unique needs of various sports must be carefully considered.
As Canberra continues to grow, the pressure on existing infrastructure will only increase. Advocates like Mr. Vogt and Dr. Luke-Evered emphasize the importance of maintaining and expanding public pool facilities to ensure they remain accessible and meet the needs of the community. The outcome of current redevelopment plans will likely set a precedent for how the city balances modernization with preserving its aquatic heritage.
