The Canberra Olympic Pool is a "unique prize waiting to be fully exploited" and "ripe for renewal", a community swimming club says.
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The Molonglo Water Dragons Masters Swimming Club has called on the ACT Government to make a "modest investment" in the Civic pool so unique community asset does not fall into disrepair.
Club president John Collis fears talk of a new stadium in Civic on the site means funding for the pool has been frozen.
The ACT Government said it would continue to maintain the facility, however, it currently had no plans to upgrade the precinct.
Mr Collis recently wrote to the government after a number of incidents, including an attempted car jacking and people begging for money near parking meters, had caused club members to question their safety.
Mr Collis said the combination of inadequate lighting in the car park and the extension of pay parking until 10pm had driven people from area, increasingly isolating nighttime pool users and putting them at risk.
He said modest investment to bring more people into the area would improve public safety and help reap better value from the pool.
Mr Collis was concerned that speculation about a new stadium in Civic would "lead to the sort of policy paralysis where Governments hold back on maintaining a community asset till it becomes run down and its removal is justified".
"We need a Government that is prepared to capitalise on its assets and fully exploit the unique property portfolio it has been elected to manage on our behalf," Mr Collis said.
"A modest investment in this unique community asset could see the area fully lit up, with safe bicycle access and parking facilities, and a cafe where visitors can gather.
"The Civic Pool is a unique prize waiting to be fully exploited. It comes with a ready-made clientele ... and growing market of nearby residents and visitors to the city waiting to be served.
"It is a year-round all weather community sport and fitness facility and it needs the support of our Government to bring it back to a standard where people can expect to be able to use it safely, day and night, without being attacked, carjacked or accosted for money."
An ACT Government spokeswoman said the government had not frozen investment in the facility because of speculation surrounding a new stadium in Civic.
However, she said "at this stage there are no planned upgrades for the Canberra Olympic Pool and it will be business as usual for the next swimming season.
"There will be extensive consultation before there are any changes to the operation of the pool facility and its precinct."
Police statistics showed there had not been an increase in crime around the precinct, however, the government spokeswoman said lighting had been improved and would be further upgraded in the near future.
"In late May 2018 Roads ACT repaired two defective streetlights at the car park adjacent to the Canberra Olympic Pool off Allara Street. A third defective streetlight will be reinstated soon once a panel issue is rectified," she said.
"Roads ACT has undertaken a lighting assessment of this car park and determined that additional streetlight outreach arms could be added to some of the streetlights surrounding the car park.
"This would provide additional lighting. This work will be programmed within the next fortnight."
