Friends of Manuka Pool is calling on the Labor, Liberal and Greens parties to commit long‐overdue funding for significant works required to protect the heritage values of Manuka Pool.
“Manuka pool is an ageing facility and requires a substantial budget commitment,” Friends President, Dr Clive Hamilton, said today. “Previous requests for funding have gone unheeded and structural damage is imminent.”
Among the problems requiring a desperately needed injection of funds are:
- addressing rising damp
- painting the buildings
- provide rusting reinforcement mesh in the concrete concourse and the buildings, and
- fence and roof maintenance.
Despite generous sport policies, with the Labor Party committing $23m, and the Greens $14.8m for sporting facilities and grants, neither party has made any commitment to Manuka Pool, and there is only one mention of any funding within the electorate of Kurrajong. The Liberal party has only made two sporting commitments, both outside Kurrajong. Older Canberra suburbs of the inner north and south hosting Canberra’s heritage buildings have been ignored, despite them being some of the most densely populated suburbs in Canberra.
“Manuka Pool and its lawns are patronised by more than 30,000 visitors each season with a mix of regular lap swimmers and families. It has a place in the heart of many Canberrans and is the backyard for many residents” said Dr Hamilton.
“We are disappointed to see that it has been completely ignored in this election. Even Heritage Policies, some committing dedicated funding to the Sydney and Melbourne buildings failed to identify the iconic Manuka Pool as needing attention.”
Former pool manager John (“Tav”) Taverner supports the call for funding. “I pushed for years for proper funding for the pool”, he said. “It is gut‐wrenching to see such a beautiful building falling apart.”
Friends of Manuka Pool 