Adelaide Aquatic Centre

Ms WORTLEY (Torrens) (15:17): My question is to the Minister for Recreation, Sport and Racing. Can the minister update the house on any significant milestones in the delivery of the new Adelaide Aquatic Centre?

The Hon. R.K. PEARCE (King—Minister for Emergency Services and Correctional Services, Minister for Recreation, Sport and Racing) (15:18): I thank the member for Torrens for her question. I am so pleased to share that as the weather warms up it is time to mark your calendars because I am pleased to share with the house that the new Adelaide Aquatic Centre is on track to open to the public on Tuesday 27 January 2026.

With over 400,000 construction hours worked and over 1,500 full-time jobs supported during the construction phase, the new $135 million Adelaide Aquatic Centre is shaping up to be a world-class facility. The community is ready to back in that pool. Memberships have been flying out the doors since they opened to the public on 19 November. As of yesterday, 24 November, 1,282 learn to swim memberships and 748 general pool and gym memberships have been sold. It is clear that South Australians are ready to make a splash in the new centre.

Last Sunday (Sunday week ago now) I was fortunate enough to be on site at the new Adelaide Aquatic Centre with the Minister for Infrastructure and Transport in the other place and the wonderful Minister for Environment and Water, who, as the local member for Adelaide—but even before her time in that role—has staunchly fought for a long-term solution for the ageing centre while the government at the time dragged their feet over what to do with a crumbling council-owned facility.

The member for Adelaide has helped shape the new centre as a hub not just for her beloved community but for wider Adelaide and South Australia as well. For their patience, we were able to provide local residents and former members of the old Adelaide Aquatic Centre the first opportunity to sign up for membership at the brand-new centre, and I am so pleased to see that they have taken full advantage of that offer. I thank the member for Adelaide for spreading the fantastic news and I know that she cannot wait to welcome her local community and previous users and groups back to the centre.

At the new Adelaide Aquatic Centre, there will be something for everyone: if it's not the 50-metre, 10-lane indoor pool, it's the lagoon outdoor pool; you could be watching the kids in the dedicated indoor learn-to-swim pool; just simply enjoying the leisure space, fully equipped with splash zones and some incredible waterslides; or working out in the gym and fitness facilities, followed by a relaxing visit to the sauna and steam rooms. This is truly a marvellous facility and I cannot wait for South Australians to witness for themselves just how much is on offer here at this incredible facility.