Amelia Tattam, the 18-year-old leading the latest charge to save Big Splash. Photo: James Coleman.
The ACT Heritage Council has ruled out a heritage listing for Big Splash – just as the ACT Government extended the deadline to decide whether to terminate the lease on the long-closed Macquarie waterpark.
Last month, the lessee – a group of lenders who repossessed the site from owner Translink Property Management – was given 15 working days to explain why the Crown Lease should not be terminated after Big Splash failed to reopen for three years.
That “show cause” period was due to expire on Friday (20 February). However, late on Friday, the Territory Planning Authority confirmed it has granted an extension of five working days.
Big Splash failed to make the cut for a heritage listing. Photo: James Coleman.
“The notice, which was provided 30 January, provided 15 working days to respond,” a government spokesperson said.
“The Territory Planning Authority can extend the time to respond at its discretion, and on 19 February 2026 agreed to do so for a further five working days in consideration of the complexities associated with the different parties involved in the matter.”
The new deadline for a response is now 27 February. The ACT Government says the responses will then be considered and “further information” provided “when appropriate”.
Big Splash is one of seven sites facing regulatory action for failing to maintain its property. The deadline to reopen it as a public aquatic facility passed last month.
Heritage nomination dismissed
At its latest meeting, the ACT Heritage Council decided to dismiss a nomination to list Big Splash on the ACT Heritage Register.
“The Council acknowledges the connection many feel to the place but decided that the nomination was unlikely to result in a heritage registration,” a spokesperson said.
Anyone can nominate a place for heritage listing under the Heritage Act 2004, and once submitted, the Council decides if it meets the “significance criteria”.
These include “importance to the course or pattern of the ACT’s cultural or natural history”, “importance in exhibiting particular aesthetic characteristics valued by the ACT community”, and “strong or special association with the ACT community, or a cultural group in the ACT for social, cultural or spiritual reasons”.
But in this case, Big Splash failed to meet the threshold.
The Council said its decision relates only to the heritage criteria and is completely separate from any regulatory action by the government.
Lease showdown looms
The heritage decision comes as the long-running saga at Big Splash continues to drag on.
On Thursday night (19 February), around 200 people gathered at the Belconnen Labor Club for a community meeting organised by local group Save Big Splash. Minister for Sport and Recreation Yvette Berry, Senator David Pocock, Greens MLA Jo Clay and Liberal MLA Peter Cain were among those invited, along with industry and community representatives.
The Save Big Splash community meeting at the Belconnen Labor Club on Thursday, 19 February. Photo: Belco 60, Facebook.
Save Big Splash spokesperson Amelia Tattam said the group was seeking clarity around the lease deadline.
“We’re heartened by the conversations that have been happening and the willingness of the minister and others to engage seriously with this issue,” she said, before the government had extended the deadline.
“But with the lease deadline expiring on Friday, the community is understandably eager to understand what comes next and what role Big Splash will play in the ACT’s aquatic future.”
“Big Splash has served Canberra for more than 50 years as our only waterpark. More than 4500 people have signed the petition to save it, making it the fastest petition to the ACT Government to reach that milestone.”
Canberra Liberals MLA Peter Cain with Save Big Splash leaders Amelia and Isla. Photo: Peter Cain MLA, Facebook.
The community group says experienced operators, including the Sarri family, who ran Big Splash in the 1980s and now operate Aquatots, have expressed interest in reviving the site.
“The fact that experienced local operators are engaging seriously with this issue, and have already been in conversation with the government, shows that a viable future for Big Splash is within reach,” Ms Tattam said.
The government has threatened to use “new powers” under the Planning Act 2023 for the first time.
“Failure to complete works within the new compliance time are grounds to terminate the lease,” a spokesperson previously said.
If the lease is terminated, the site would return to government control.
What was approved
While Big Splash missed out, the Council did approve heritage registration for McKeown House at 109 Irvine Street, Watson – described as a rare example of the work of early Canberra architect Dr Enrico Taglietti.
Catherine Skippington, Chair of the ACT Heritage Council, said the decision recognises the home’s unique place in Canberra’s architectural story.
“McKeown House is remarkable because it captures both the beginning and end of Taglietti’s career,” Ms Skippington said.
“It is incredibly rare to see an architect’s early and late works side-by-side on the same block, connected across 30 years.
“Taglietti shaped the look and feel of Canberra. By protecting places like McKeown House, we’re preserving not just buildings, but the creative spirit that helped define our city.”
The heritage registration takes effect once it is published on the ACT Legislation Register.
