Canberra's aquatic sports users say they have missed out on a new facility after the final plans for the Stromlo leisure centre did not include a deep pool.
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Last week, after almost a decade of planning, construction of Stromlo's $36.6 million leisure centre dived into action.
At the time, Minister for Sport and Recreation Yvette Berry said the facility would one day service more than 100,000 people in Weston Creek, Woden and the Molonglo Valley.
But the Canberra Diving Academy said it had yet again missed out on supporting the aquatic sports and only looked after the recreational pool users of ACT.
Ann Widdup of the diving academy said they were excited to see a new pool and that the government was for filling an election promise but they felt let down. Ms Berry announced the government would set aside $33 million for the pool in the 2017 budget.
"As part of the consultation Canberra Diving Academy was told that the diving pool would not be built in stage 1 of the development," Ms Widdup said.
"Canberra is the national capital of Australia and it is without a major pool that looks after all aquatic sports in Canberra for major competitions or as training facilities.
"But, there is land set aside for a part B to be developed into a deep pool in the future."
Ms Widdup said the only facility in the ACT with a deep enough pool was at the Canberra Olympic Pool but it was getting too old. The diving board only operates during the summer season.
Plans for a deep pool was promised when the Canberra International Sports and Aquatic Centre was being built but it did not eventuate. The same happened with the Gungahlin pool and the planned state aquatic centre beside Lake Burley Griffin.
The Stromlo Leisure Centre will include a 50-metre lap and competition pool, a program pool for activities like swimming lessons and aqua aerobics, a reception, kiosk, administration offices and change rooms.
The construction of the pool is to be the beginning of Stromlo Forest Park's evolution into a vibrant sport and recreation precinct.
Ms Widdup said aquatic sports like swimming competitively short and long course, triathlons, water polo, scuba diving training, underwater rugby, and diving needed a deep pool for training.
"Canberra aquatic sports have again been let down the in favour of fun recreational pools for the public," Ms Widdup said.
"We need a state aquatic centre that looks after all water sports in Canberra ... Stromlo was a missed opportunity."
She said it was time to support the aquatic sports of Canberra and said the territory needed to have a purpose-built sports facility that included a deep pool, dive boards, water polo nets, training pools and competition facilities like ones found around the country.
Construction of the Stromlo centre is expected to be complete in early 2020.
