The Australian Capital Territory government failed to deliver a timely resolution for the beloved Big Splash water park in Jamison, as reality finally bit and officials conceded the facility missed its November deadline.
Canberrans face yet another long, hot summer without access to the prominent recreational site. The process has showcased a badly handled situation that has left the community frustrated by the deterioration of public and private aquatic facilities.
Sport and Recreation Minister Chris Steel has announced a new options analysis. This simply kicks the can further down the road.
While the government has ruled out rezoning the land for residential development, which has quelled fears of a repeat of the Phillip Pool apartment debacle, the commissioning of another study merely delays the inevitable need for a concrete resolution.
The delay highlights how poorly officials managed the closure and subsequent degradation of the privately operated territory lease. The first signs of trouble emerged when operators claimed the pool required major repairs, which led to repeatedly missed opening dates and a site that became increasingly dilapidated.
The sheer neglect on the part of the operators, who remain conspicuously absent, is undeniable with one spokesperson claiming vandals had damaged the facility "beyond repair".
All the while, the government has said its hands remained tied because the owners supposedly avoided breaching their lease on the private business. However, the business operated on a territory lease, and leasing surely carried enforceable conditions.
The lack of action and transparency prompted Greens Member of the Legislative Assembly Jo Clay to stress the need for more clarity and to back community calls for the government to consider all possibilities to keep the venue operational.
More than 2000 people signed a petition that called on the government to terminate the Crown lease and take the water park back into public ownership. However, taxpayer ownership is not a viable option.
This government has poor form in managing aquatic facilities and ratepayers don't need another financial sinkhole.
Given the government appeared to lack a clear understanding of the land's value or the true costs associated with bringing the existing amenities back online and adding new ones the focus must remain on keeping the site exclusively for public recreational use while seeking a capable and experienced private operator.
The ideal outcome requires the government to take all necessary steps to make Big Splash as attractive as possible to a potential buyers.
If this involves short-term incentives to sweeten the pot for operators with the funds and the technical expertise to restore the trashed amenities, fix the swimming pools, and run a successful long-term business then so be it.
The Southern Cross Club and previous operators are among those who have expressed interest in putting forward plans for the location. The new government report should enable those interested parties to present their proposals for consideration.
Canberrans are right to fear that outdoor public pools could become a footnote in the city's history; not an ongoing and integral part of community life. Canberra is known for its hot and increasingly lengthy summers.
The process surrounding the closure and the apparent willful neglect of this site has, to date, given the public little confidence in the government's commitment to quality public amenities.
Finding a competent private operator who is committed to the long term future of Big Splash is the only realistic path forward.
