ANU to make a splash with new campus swimming pool

Staff and students at The Australian National University (ANU) and residents in surrounding suburbs will receive a multimillion dollar Christmas present with the announcement today that the University would build a swimming pool on campus as part a new recreation building in a revitalised Union Court. ANU Vice-Chancellor Professor Brian Schmidt said a campus swimming pool had been one of the most requested items from staff and students for many years. "I think every one of my predecessors over the past couple of decades would tell you that the suggestion that ANU should have a swimming pool is one that is made often and repeatedly by everyone here, from first-year students to Professors who have been on the campus since before most of our students were born. I'm delighted to be the lucky Vice-Chancellor to announce this 'big Christmas present' for the ANU community and the wider Canberra community," Professor Schmidt said. The University unveiled plans for an approximately $14 million multipurpose recreation building that will include a 25-metre six-lane indoor pool. However, the University is also continuing discussions with the ACT Government about possibly building a 50-metre Olympic pool instead of a 25-metre pool. The pool, scheduled to open in 2019, will be part of a new sport and recreation facility with a 15-metre-by-eight-metre hydro pool and a 24-hour, 7 day-a-week gym that will help meet community demand for additional facilities. "ANU has grown substantially over the past decade and we now have more than 4,000 staff and 22,000 students, including 5,000 who live on the campus.