Canberra Liberals MLA Peter Cain is demanding evidence Big Splash is on track to reopen by November 1, after Planning Minister Chris Steel confirmed the deadline remains in force despite the Belconnen aquatic centre being up for sale.

Mr Cain said the minister had provided no reopening works program, commissioning timeline or confirmed opening date, despite the deadline being about two months away.

“Belconnen residents have already lost two summers. They deserve certainty, not another season of excuses,” he said.

In an August 25 letter to Mr Cain, Mr Steel confirmed Access Canberra had made clear the requirement for the privately leased site to reopen by November 1 remained in place.

He said the lease obligations would also transfer to any future owner if the property was sold, and Access Canberra reserved the right to take further action.

Mr Steel said inspections had found general maintenance was occurring at the site, with Access Canberra continuing regular inspections and monitoring compliance.

The government’s preferred outcome was for a private party to buy and operate the site, including an aquatic facility.

Mr Steel said the expression of interest sales process being conducted by the site’s lenders had concluded, with the government continuing to monitor the sale process.

Mr Cain said the letter, which came almost five months after he first wrote to the government on March 26, still left unanswered whether the facility could meet the reopening deadline.

He said he would raise the issue in the Legislative Assembly and ask what action the government would take if Big Splash did not reopen by November 1.

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