Leichhardt Park Aquatic Centre: Labor leader Anthony Albanese commits $1 million upgrade

A $1 million revamp for Leichhardt Park Aquatic Centre has been promised by Labor leader Anthony Albanese if he wins the upcoming election.

A $1 million revamp for Leichhardt Park Aquatic Centre has been promised by Labor federal leader Anthony Albanese if he wins the upcoming election, who wished to make clear the upgrades wouldn’t resemble a ‘WaterWorld’.

Mr Albanese, flanked by Inner West Council mayor Darcy Byrne and Labor councillor Philippa Scott, reminisced on his swimming days for South Sydney Swimming Club when he made the election promise on the weekend.

Anthony Albanese talks with local schoolchildren at Leichhardt Park Aquatic Centre. Picture: Supplied

“The first 25m I’d be flying, doing really well,” Mr Albanese said. “By the end of the 50m I wouldn’t be …”

Mr Albanese, who is the Grayndler MP, said the $1 million would be used to create a landscaped waterplay area with BBQs and a shared recreation space, which would include a zero-depth waterplay area, interactive water features, grass and biodiverse plant areas and accessible design features.

However, Mr Albanese was quick to dampen children’s expectations.

Inner West Council Mayor Darcy Byrne (left), Mr Albanese (centre) and Councillor Philippa Scott at Leichhardt Park Aquatic Centre. Picture: Supplied

“There’s a waterplay park near me in Marrickville,” he said. “But I remember when I took my son he was a bit disappointed, I think he was expecting something like a Waterworld. So he was pretty disgusted with his Dad.”

Mr Albanese was quick to reiterate the importance of public spaces given the limited space in the inner west.

“I grew up in Camperdown and our backyard was tiny and covered in cement,” he said. “If you wanted to go play and exercise, one of the places you could go to was your local aquatic centre. You need open spaces and public swimming pools to keep people active.”

The Inner West Council has overseen the redevelopments of both Ashfield Aquatic Centre and the Dawn Fraser Baths, and Mayor Byrne said improving the facilities was beneficial to physical and mental health.

A very overcast and wet Leichhardt Park Aquatic Centre. Picture: Alexi Demetriadi

“I think we learned through the pandemic that access to swimming is crucial to people’s mental health,” he said.

“If you can get people regularly swimming it has massive benefits for their physical health throughout their lives.”

Mr Albanese said the commitment would be honoured if elected, something he believed the Liberal government doesn’t appear to do.

“This government has made so many promises that they simply haven’t delivered on,” he said.

“They talk a big game, but they very rarely deliver. They’ll issue a press release and that’s job done for them. Press releases don’t build anything, but we will.”