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Canberra’s Big Splash Water Park Future Remains Uncertain - Canberra, ACT
Smart summary
Canberra’s only outdoor water park has remained closed since 2024, with the site now at the centre of community frustration over its uncertain future.
Canberra’s Big Splash water park is facing an uncertain future after remaining closed for more than two years, with the condition of the site and repeated delays over its reopening continuing to frustrate the local community. The Canberra attraction, located in Macquarie in the city’s north, has been closed since the beginning of 2024.
Big Splash was originally a public swimming pool before being transformed into a water park after it was purchased by a family in the 1990s. Over the years, the facility became a familiar recreational destination for Canberra families, particularly during the warmer months.
However, the park has deteriorated considerably since its closure. Images of the site show unused facilities, an empty and disused swimming pool and vandalism around parts of the property. The deterioration has become a major point of concern for residents who want the facility returned to recreational use.
The site is privately owned and operates under a 99-year Crown lease. The 13,000-square-metre property has lease conditions requiring it to be used for an aquatic facility, an indoor sports facility or an unlicensed family restaurant. The current lessee, Translink Management Group, signed the lease in 2021, with those conditions remaining in place.
Big Splash was previously expected to reopen in November 2025, but that deadline was not met. The operator cited increasing repair costs as one of the factors affecting the planned reopening.
Earlier this year, the ACT government considered the future of the property and confirmed that it did not intend to rezone the site for residential development. The government has maintained that its preference is for the location to continue serving a recreational purpose rather than being converted into housing.
The park was also placed on the market in June 2026. According to the latest reporting, no acceptable offer was received during the expressions-of-interest process, meaning the property remains available for purchase.
The future of the site has become an important issue for local residents because Canberra has limited outdoor aquatic recreation facilities. Community members have expressed frustration about the length of time the park has remained closed and the lack of a clear reopening date.
The ACT government has regulatory powers that could potentially be used if lease conditions are not met. These include issuing a controlled activity order or, in certain circumstances, terminating the lease. However, authorities have not committed to taking either step at this stage.
The uncertainty comes as Canberra approaches another warmer season, when outdoor swimming and water-based recreation become more popular. For families who remember Big Splash as a summer destination, the continued closure means another season without access to the attraction.
The situation also raises broader questions about how privately owned recreational facilities operating on Crown land should be managed when they remain closed for extended periods.
For now, Big Splash remains closed and its long-term future has yet to be determined. The site continues to attract community attention as residents wait to see whether it will eventually reopen as a water park, be redeveloped into another approved recreational facility, or change hands under a new owner.
ParkCanberraSiteSplashClosed
Canberra’s Big Splash water park is facing an uncertain future after remaining closed for more than two years, with the condition of the site and repeated delays over its reopening continuing to frustrate the local community. The Canberra attraction, located in Macquarie in the city’s north, has been closed since the beginning of 2024.
Big Splash was originally a public swimming pool before being transformed into a water park after it was purchased by a family in the 1990s. Over the years, the facility became a familiar recreational destination for Canberra families, particularly during the warmer months.
However, the park has deteriorated considerably since its closure. Images of the site show unused facilities, an empty and disused swimming pool and vandalism around parts of the property. The deterioration has become a major point of concern for residents who want the facility returned to recreational use.
The site is privately owned and operates under a 99-year Crown lease. The 13,000-square-metre property has lease conditions requiring it to be used for an aquatic facility, an indoor sports facility or an unlicensed family restaurant. The current lessee, Translink Management Group, signed the lease in 2021, with those conditions remaining in place.
Big Splash was previously expected to reopen in November 2025, but that deadline was not met. The operator cited increasing repair costs as one of the factors affecting the planned reopening.
Earlier this year, the ACT government considered the future of the property and confirmed that it did not intend to rezone the site for residential development. The government has maintained that its preference is for the location to continue serving a recreational purpose rather than being converted into housing.
The park was also placed on the market in June 2026. According to the latest reporting, no acceptable offer was received during the expressions-of-interest process, meaning the property remains available for purchase.
The future of the site has become an important issue for local residents because Canberra has limited outdoor aquatic recreation facilities. Community members have expressed frustration about the length of time the park has remained closed and the lack of a clear reopening date.
The ACT government has regulatory powers that could potentially be used if lease conditions are not met. These include issuing a controlled activity order or, in certain circumstances, terminating the lease. However, authorities have not committed to taking either step at this stage.
The uncertainty comes as Canberra approaches another warmer season, when outdoor swimming and water-based recreation become more popular. For families who remember Big Splash as a summer destination, the continued closure means another season without access to the attraction.
The situation also raises broader questions about how privately owned recreational facilities operating on Crown land should be managed when they remain closed for extended periods.
For now, Big Splash remains closed and its long-term future has yet to be determined. The site continues to attract community attention as residents wait to see whether it will eventually reopen as a water park, be redeveloped into another approved recreational facility, or change hands under a new owner.
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