Page 4351 - Week 13 - Thursday, 19 November 2015
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Belconnen—proposed aquatic facilities
(Question No 600)
Mrs Dunne asked the Minister for Sport and Recreation, upon notice, on 19 November 2015:
(1) Since the closure of the private sector-owned and operated public swimming pool at Kippax, what representations has the Government received, and from whom, about the future provision of a public aquatic centre in West Belconnen.
(2) What consideration has the government given to those representations.
(3) Has the Government begun any process to assess the feasibility of construction of an aquatic centre in West Belconnen.
(4) If so, what is the status of that process, including but not limited to, (a) what assessment has been made of the estimated cost of a construction project and (b) what locations are under consideration.
(5) If not, does the Government plan to begin such a process; if so, when.
Mr Rattenbury: The answer to the member’s question is as follows:
(1) The ACT Government has received very few representations regarding the provision of a public aquatic centre in West Belconnen. Representations that have been received include:
• Mrs Vicki Dunne, MLA;
• A private citizen.
(2) The provision of aquatic facilities continues to be at the forefront of ACT Government planning. To guide the provision of aquatic facilities, Sport and Recreation Services within the Chief Minister, Treasury and Economic Development Directorate developed the ACT Government Aquatic Facilities Planning Framework 2013-2033 (the Framework).
The Framework identified that there are currently four aquatic facilities in the Belconnen area (Canberra International Sports and Aquatic Centre in Belconnen, Big Splash in Macquarie, Australian Institute of Sport in Bruce and King Swim in Macgregor). Canberra International Sports and Aquatic Centre and the Australian Institute of Sport provide year round swimming and both have 50 metre pools. Big Splash also has a 50 metre pool and is open from October – March. King Swim provides year round swimming, but is primarily a learn-to-swim facility. With four pools already in the region, each no further than 12 kilometres from the proposed new development area, the Framework shows the region is well catered for in comparison to other districts with the existing facilities having capacity to cater for any increased demand from the community.
In the circumstances, the ACT Government has no current plans to provide a public pool in the West Belconnen area.
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