The Belconnen Community Council (BCC) welcomes the unanimous vote in the Legislative Assembly last week calling on the government to commit to taking regulatory action and outline what it can do to ensure Big Splash is reopened in time for summer.
The iconic facility, which has served generations of Belconnen residents, has suffered from underinvestment and has fallen into a state of disrepair under its current ownership.
“Big Splash has been a cornerstone of Belconnen’s recreational landscape for decades,” said BCC Chair Lachlan Butler. “Its potential loss would be another blow to community infrastructure in our rapidly growing district.”
The BCC acknowledges the challenges facing ageing facilities but emphasises that Belconnen’s expanding population requires more—not fewer—community recreational spaces, particularly with increased urban infill.
“With Belconnen’s population continuing to grow, we cannot afford to lose vital community assets without proper planning for their replacement or revitalisation,” Mr. Butler stated. “What we’re seeing is a concerning pattern of proposed community facility reduction precisely when infrastructure should be expanding to meet increasing demand.”
The BCC welcomes Minister Steel seeking advice on the regulatory options available but urge the ACT Government to be proactive in acting once receiving this advice. The ACT Government should explore all available options to preserve the facility for community use, whether through direct intervention and enforcement, new public-private partnerships, or other innovative approaches.
“The ACT Government has a responsibility to ensure we don’t lose this valuable community asset permanently. We’re calling for swift, decisive action that prioritises community needs over purely commercial considerations,” added Mr. Butler.
While the BCC remains open to creative solutions for the site, it emphasises that any future decision must maintain or enhance community recreational opportunities in the Belconnen district.
You can find the print version of this media release here.