As the weather begins to warm up, Canberrans are pulling out the cossies and goggles in preparation for the 2019-20 summer swimming season.
The ACT Government is responsible for overseeing the management of six public swimming pools in the Canberra region.
Canberrans can visit Canberra Olympic Pool, Lakeside Leisure Centre, Gungahlin Leisure Centre and Active Leisure Centre in Erindale year-round, with each facility offering a range of indoor activities such as heated pools, gyms and cafes. As well as the well-loved outdoor facilities-Dickson Pool and Manuka Pool-that operate each summer season.
In 2018-19, the six ACT Government pools saw a successful swimming season with over 1,050,000 centre visits. Over the summer period Canberrans flocked to our outdoor pools – with Dickson Pool seeing a 25 per cent increase and Manuka Pool experiencing a 15 per cent increase in visitation numbers.
The ACT Government has invested in a new perimeter fence and upgrades to the retaining wall in the beach volleyball courts at Dickson Pool, as well some temporary upgrades underway to improve the forecourt.
The historic and iconic Manuka Pool has undergone extensive works to ensure the pool meets modern health standards, retains and protects the original heritage design elements, and provides a place for all Canberrans to enjoy for years to come.
The works include a new filtration plant, upgrades to the pool structure, new filtered water lines/inlets in the pool, new underground balance tank, retiling the entire pool, new concrete concourse, upgraded poolside seating and repainting of the main building.
To retile the pool, an extensive worldwide search was also undertaken for tiles that remained sympathetic to the original and met modern slip resistance standards – these tiles have been imported from the Czech Republic.
Mount Stromlo Leisure Centre is coming along with the roof of the main building nearly complete, plastering and concreting underway and is set to open in the first half of 2020.
Events:
The Canberra community is invited to celebrate the official reopening of Manuka Pool on Saturday, 30 November 2019 with free entry and activities for the whole family.
The Erindale Pool will hold their open day on Sunday, 1 December with free entry and a range of health fitness and aquatic activities for all.
ACT Government pool opening dates:
| Lakeside Leisure Centre | Indoor pool open year-round. The outdoor splash park is now also open. |
|---|---|
| Dickson Pool | Will open on 21 October 2019. |
| Canberra Olympic Pool | Indoor pool open year-round. The outdoor pools will open on 1 November 2019. |
| Manuka Pool | Manuka Pool will reopen on 30 November 2019 after the completion of refurbishment works. |
| Gungahlin Leisure Centre | Gungahlin Leisure Centre is entirely indoors and is open all year round. |
| Active Leisure Centre | Active Leisure Centre is entirely indoors and has now reopened to return to its usual year-round operations. |
