The ACT and Australian governments have jointly committed $137.8 million to plan and deliver a new Canberra Aquatic Centre to meet the needs of our growing population and replace aging aquatic facilities across the city.

Planned for the heart of Commonwealth Park, near future light rail stops, this landmark facility will be a place for everyone. Whether you’re a keen swimmer, a parent with young kids, an older adult who likes to stay active, or someone who simply enjoys being in the water, we want to design it with our community in mind.

The project will deliver:

• A 50-metre lap pool and outdoor splash-play areas, with flexibility to support a wide range of aquatic sports and activities.
• Inclusive, functional changerooms and family-friendly amenities to make the centre welcoming for all.
• Year-round usability, with indoor and all-weather features to support Canberra’s climate.
• A focus on sustainability, incorporating passive design strategies, energy-efficient systems and water-sensitive technologies.

Surrounded by national institutions, the new aquatic centre within Commonwealth Park will embody design excellence, cultural respect and community pride.

In early 2025, the National Capital Authority (NCA) invited the community to provide feedback on the Commonwealth Park Concept Vision 2025, which highlighted the opportunity for an iconic aquatic facility to strengthen the park’s connection to water and landscape.

The new facility will also strengthen Canberra’s role as a sporting and community hub.

The ACT Government is committed to starting construction within the current term, following the finalisation of design and approval processes.

Complete the survey or leave a quick comment to tell us about what’s important to you when it comes to designing a new aquatic facility for Canberra.

Consultation is open until Friday 14 November 2025.

You can also find out more and provide feedback in person by attending one of the community pop-ups, see below for more info.

The project is in the early stages of design. We’ll need to balance a range of priorities and community needs as we consider the best use of the proposed site and budget.

Your ideas will help shape a facility that makes the most of the space, integrates with the landscape character of Commonwealth Park, supports both recreation and sport, and delivers real value for the Canberra community.

Your feedback will inform the design and functionality of the new aquatic centre in the following areas:

• Functional design: Tell us what equipment, facilities, and spaces are most important to you. This might include sporting needs, changerooms, accessible zones, café spaces, group training areas, or family-friendly features.
• Inclusivity & accessibility: Share how we can make the centre welcoming and safe for all including families, older adults, people with disability and our wider Canberran community.
• Year-round usability: Canberra’s climate brings unique needs. Your input will help us plan for a facility you’ll want to use in every season.

The existing Canberra Olympic Pool, built in 1955, has been a much-loved part of Canberra life for nearly 70 years. It has hosted everything from school carnivals and swim squads to casual family visits, making it a place of sport, recreation, and social connection. Around 145,000 people use the facility each year, including both locals and visitors from interstate.

As Canberra grows, so does the community’s need for modern aquatic spaces that are inclusive, flexible, and welcoming all year round. The new Canberra Aquatic Centre will respond to these needs by creating facilities that can support everyone.

It will also play a role in shaping Canberra’s future:

• Supporting sport and events by providing facilities that can cater for both community swimming and competitions (for example school carnivals).
• Creating stronger links with the Acton Waterfront and light rail, ensuring the facility is well-connected and easy to access.
• Unlocking opportunities at the existing Civic Pool site to facilitate an expanded Convention and Entertainment Centre precinct.
• Showcasing sustainability leadership, setting a benchmark for environmentally responsible public infrastructure in the ACT.

The new Canberra Aquatic Centre represents an opportunity to deliver something that is both functionally outstanding and symbolically significant, a place of vitality, reflection, pride, and connection for all Canberrans and visitors.