Arabic version: إعادة افتتاح بيغ سبلاش غير مرجحة لصيف كانبيرا

According to ABC News, Canberra’s Big Splash water park is unlikely to reopen for the 2026-27 summer season, with the ACT government commissioning an options analysis to determine the future of the site. The privately owned and operated park has been closed for more than two years.

The site’s lessee had committed to reopening the park in November while seeking a buyer, with work planned on the main pool and ticketing facilities. But ACT Minister for Sport and Recreation Chris Steel said the government did not believe the site would reopen by the time committed to by the lessee. A government statement described the outcome as disappointing for Canberrans who wanted the facility operating again.

The analysis will examine the costs of providing different facilities at the site and will include community consultation and feedback. Mr Steel said it would consider the cost of returning the existing 50-metre pool to operation, delivering slide facilities, restoring amenities and potentially providing facilities that were not previously available. The government said the work would also consider the wider context of aquatic facilities across the territory.

The ACT government reconfirmed it intends for the site to remain an aquatic facility and does not plan to rezone it for residential use. It said the process would allow interested parties, including possible owner-operators, to put forward ideas and plans. Save Big Splash chair Amelia Tattam said the group was disappointed by the likely failure to reopen in November, while Canberra Liberals member for Ginninderra Peter Cain and ACT Greens leader Jo Clay criticised the government’s handling of progress at the site.