Canberra faces third summer without Big Splash as government stalls on closure
Canberra's Big Splash water park, closed since early 2024, won't reopen this summer.
Canberra's Big Splash water park has sat closed for over two years. Big Splash won't open for a third summer despite a failed government attempt to reclaim the site.
Access Canberra chose not to end the lease in April 2026, even though the leaseholder breached multiple warnings and repair orders without a single fine. The owner said it won't operate a pool but will open a restaurant instead.
In January, when Canberra hit 41.1 degrees, nearby Dickson Pool hit capacity by 11:30am and had to turn people away. Canberra has about 45,000 people per public pool, the fourth worst ratio among Australian cities.
Belconnen, home to one in four Canberrans, has no outdoor pools at all.
- Beginning of 2024
- Pool closed since
- 45,000
- People per public pool
- 41.1 degrees
- Peak temperature January 2026
- 11:30am
- Dickson Pool capacity reached
Why it mattersPublic pools are where people without backyard pools or cars go to escape extreme heat, and losing them concentrates risk on the most vulnerable during heatwaves.
AustraliaCanberra residents, especially families and those without private pools, face dangerous heat with no public cooling option as the ACT government waits on an 'options analysis' of the land.
✓ Claims checked against the source. checked 3 d ago
