Casuarina Aquatic and Leisure Centre: Darwin’s new $26.8m pool to open on July 13, 2024
Darwin Lord Mayor Kon Vatskalis has shown off the city’s new glimmering jewel: the $26.8m redevelopment of a dated northern suburbs pool. Watch the video and find out when you can take a dip.
Northern Territory
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The new $26.8 million Casuarina Aquatic and Leisure Centre will accept its first patrons on July 13 for a family fun day, the City of Darwin has announced.
It has been more than 18 months since the former Casuarina Pool, which opened in 1970, shut its doors to the public but the end is finally in sight.
The new centre will feature an eight-lane 50m pool, a temperature-controlled, six-lane 25m Learn to Swim pool, a resort-style lagoon pool, a cafe and barbecue facilities, dry and wet play areas, a basketball half-court, a large grassed area, and better change rooms and amenities.
To celebrate the opening, City of Darwin will host a free family fun event at the new centre with activities from 11am–3pm for people of all ages to enjoy.
The centre would then commence its normal hours of operation from Sunday, July 14 onwards – six months ahead of schedule.
The project did, however, come in $1.8m over budget.
Outstanding works still to be checked off before the opening date include additional landscaping and completing the carpark.
The council is also seeking operators for three tenancies, which the council hopes will be taken up by a gym, a cafe and allied health.
Lord Mayor Kon Vatskalis said he was thrilled to open the $26.8m centre, which he described as a modern and accessible hub that can be enjoyed by all.
“We are delighted to officially open the doors of the Casuarina Aquatic and Leisure Centre to our community,” Mr Vatskalis said.
“This centre is a state of the art, family-friendly place that will provide social and physical benefits for people of all ages.
“We are thrilled to be hosting a free family fun event for the entire community to attend and I encourage you to join us at this special event.
“There will be a range of festivities on offer, including giveaways, live entertainment and complimentary access to the amazing pools.
“If you don’t want to get wet, the centre also has a large, grassed area, half basketball court and a dry play area featuring a unique sensory dome, the first of its kind in the Northern Territory.”
Federal Solomon MP Luke Gosling, whose government committed $7.5m towards the cost, said the aquatic centre would “improve liveability in the Northern Suburbs, providing a family-friendly, accessible, super-modern (and fun) aquatic destination for local working families”.
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Originally published as Casuarina Aquatic and Leisure Centre: Darwin’s new $26.8m pool to open on July 13, 2024
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