Canberra's ability to attract national and international swimming events to a major new aquatic centre will be examined by consultants, along with the state of the capital's swimming pools and the risks posed by aquatic centres in private ownership.
The ACT government is seeking a consultant to draw up a 10-year aquatic strategy and provide high-level cost estimates of the facilities needed to plug any gaps, after examining pool patronage in the territory and global swimming and aquatic sports trends.
The consultant must examine whether Canberra needs a state-level aquatic centre on the same scale as major facilities in Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide and Brisbane.
"This assessment should consider the potential to attract and host state, national and international aquatic events in Canberra, including any associated costs (such as event acquisition fees), and quantify the potential economic impacts and benefits to the territory associated with hosting such events," the project's statement of requirements said.
The government also wants the consultant to outline possible risks of privately owned public pools, like the dormant Big Splash Water Park, but recommendations "must primarily focus on existing ACT government-owned aquatic facilities".
The report will include advice on the overall condition of the government's existing pools and outline the estimated costs of maintenance and upgrades over the next 10 years. The government also wants an estimated cost of replacing pools' gas-heating systems.
Consultants have been told they would need to "identify emerging national and international industry trends relating to aquatic recreation (including urban and wild swimming), sports participation, facility provision, design, and operational models - inclusive of facility sustainability, environmental considerations, and climatic conditions similar to Canberra".
How ACT pool fees and charges compare with other capital cities and metropolitan areas also must be examined, along with opportunities for competition and recreation diving facilities and deep-water aquatic sports.
The report, which the government wants finished before the end of 2027, needs to provide a clear rationale for future recommendations and investments and cover the decade to 2037, the government said.
The consultant must take into account the government's commitment to build a new swimming pool at Commonwealth Park and a new 50-metre outdoor pool in Woden, and provide advice on the need for new aquatic facilities in Canberra's growth areas, such as West Belconnen.
"The ACT aquatic strategy will deliver a robust, evidence-based assessment of current and future aquatic infrastructure needs across the territory. This will include a review of available asset condition audit information for existing ACT government aquatic facilities, and will identify financially sustainable, long-term investment priorities," the government's tender documents said.
"This work will have regard to the final agreed scope of the new [Canberra aquatic centre], subject to a decision by government, alongside an analysis of emerging aquatic recreation and sporting needs relevant to Canberra's climate including urban/wild swimming considerations."
The ACT government owns seven swimming pools: Canberra Olympic Pool in the city centre, Dickson Pool, Gungahlin Leisure Centre, Lakeside Leisure Centre, Manuka Pool, Erindale Leisure Centre and Stromlo Leisure Centre.
The former sport and recreation minister, Yvette Berry, last year confirmed the government would commission a consultant to develop the strategy, a move that drew the ire of swimmers, sporting groups and community groups who wanted to co-design the plan.
But Ms Berry said she had written to 30 community groups about the strategy and they would be deeply embedded in its development.
"It is important that we have an expert to gather all the information, the data, and the most up-to-date, modern methods of building pools, as well as understanding the data for ACT usage and across the region," Ms Berry told question time on February 4.
ACT Labor promised a new swimming pool in Commonwealth Park ahead of the 2024 ACT election, having secured joint funding from the federal Labor government. In January, the government said a new 50-metre outdoor pool would be built in Woden.
Tenders for the aquatic strategy consultancy close on October 27.
