Improvements to the Erindale Active Leisure Centre were an ACT Labor 2024 election promise. Photo: Facebook.
The Sports Minister has flagged that work is underway to take a business case to the 2026-27 Budget for promised upgrades to the Erindale Active Leisure Centre.
Opposition Leader Mark Parton moved a motion in the Legislative Assembly calling on the government to deliver on the 2024 ACT Labor election promise, demanding an update on the planned extent of the upgrades and a timeline with completion dates be communicated by 26 February.
“Fulfil your promises: if you say you’re going to do something, you need to do it,” he said.
Brindabella and ACT Greens MLA Laura Nuttall agreed, altering Mr Parton’s motion slightly to call on the government to include full funding for the upgrades “at some point” in the parliamentary term (rather than in the 2026-27 Budget and appropriation as called for by Mr Parton).
Complaints about the facility mainly relate to cleanliness and maintenance, with cockroaches and mould being key concerns.
“I have consistently heard from the Tuggeranong community that Erindale’s facilities are not up to scratch,” Ms Nuttall said.
“Ultimately, it is a public facility, and there needs to be a level of responsibility to listen to the community and users of the pool.”
The ACT Labor MLAs were fired up about the motion – not because it was calling on the government to move on the project, but because of the suggestion that the election promise was going to be broken.
Brindabella MLA and Labor backbencher Taimus Werner-Gibbings said he was hearing the feedback, “both good and bad”, and said it was a priority of the government to improve the facilities.
“I want to be clear to my fellow users of the pool: these upgrades won’t be the result of Mr Parton, or any other member of this chamber, bringing a motion to the chamber,” he said.
“The upgrades are an ACT Labor commitment.”
Sports Minister Yvette Berry agreed, stating her counterparts also couldn’t support the motion because it directed the government to appropriate money ahead of the budget process.
However, she revealed a business case on the upgrades would be taken to the 2026-27 Budget process.
“There is a promise, it is an election commitment, it will be delivered,” Ms Berry said.
“I am going through the process, appropriately, to ensure that delivery can occur.
“Not everything can be funded within the first three days of an election, as much as we would all love that.”
The Active Leisure Centre has undergone about $300,000 worth of minor upgrades and maintenance since August 2025.
It has also been deep-cleaned twice in the last six months, in addition to the expected nightly cleans.
Ms Berry said she knew this wasn’t enough.
“There are four years within a government term to deliver on [promises] and the ACT Labor Government plans to do just that,” she said.
“I know there is more to do … it definitely needs some love.”
If a business case is prepared in time to be considered for the 2026-27 Budget process, it does not guarantee funding.
Ms Berry said she would inform the Assembly of the results of the business case work in due course.
