In better times. The pool is the priority. Photo: Big Splash Waterpark Canberra, Facebook.
The neglected Big Splash Waterpark in Macquarie could reopen in November, but probably only as pools, according to Attorney-General and Ginninderra MLA Tara Cheyne.
In a social media post late on Tuesday (21 October), she said the owners were undertaking a program of works to get the facility up to scratch for a mid-November reopening.
But Ms Cheyne warned that the owners would face action from the regulator if they failed to reopen the waterpark, which did not open for the 2024-25 season and has been a destination for ‘urban explorers’ seeking social media opportunities, and vandals.
She said that since 2024, Access Canberra had been in touch with the owners, Translink Management Group Pty Ltd, owned by Songnan (Morris) Huang, who bought the lease to the waterpark in 2021 for $7.5 million.
It had inspected the property several times and raised issues around access and site safety.
The lease requires the owners to maintain, repair and keep the premises in a condition to the satisfaction of the Territory Planning Authority.
Access Canberra had slapped a Controlled Activity Order on the owners, requiring them to repair and maintain the fence, as well as bring the block into good order to the satisfaction of the Territory.
Ms Cheyne said some works had already been done and Access Canberra would continue to monitor the situation.
She said on Wednesday that Big Splash was more likely to reopen as just a public pool, without the slides operating.
“I understand if they are able to reopen with a pool as a recreational facility that will bring them in compliance with the purpose use clause in their Crown lease,” Ms Cheyne said.
Ms Cheyne said she would love to see the facility operating again as a full water park, but she accepted that the towering slides like those at Big Splash were much more difficult to maintain and service than a pool.
She said the community had consistently said having the pools back were the priority.
“Slides are great, but the thing that ultimately keeps you cool is being in the water,” she said.
“I think it was really missed over this past summer.”
Ms Cheyne said the owners had communicated poorly, but Access Canberra had a range of powers available to them if they did not make good on their commitments, adding that the best outcome was for them to get there voluntarily.
The state of the waterpark spurred a public campaign, with the Greens launching a petition calling on the government to step in and “bring Big Splash back” and “investigate all possible avenues to keep this important community facility open for use this summer and for future generations of Canberrans, including buying the facility and operating it as a public pool”.
In May, Planning Minister Chris Steel reassured the community that the site would not be sold off to developers, in response to a motion from the Greens.
Mr Steel told the Legislative Assembly that the Big Splash site was a PRZ2 Restricted Access Recreation Zone under the government’s development rules, which only allows for “facilities that meet the recreational needs and demands of the community and provide for a range of sport and recreational facilities and uses”.
“The site is for recreational facilities like a pool, and … the ACT Government has no plans to change the zoning of this site into the future,” he said.
In April, a series of posts on a Big Splash Facebook page from Greg said the park could not open last year due to maintenance issues and financial difficulties, but the owners were aiming to reopen for the 2025-26 season.
He was also alarmed at the damage wrought by vandals.
In May, Greg posted that he was refurbishing the front gates, fitting boards and mowing the lawn to enhance its overall look.
