Gungahlin pool would still be on track to reopen this year if the ACT Labor-Greens Government had used local Canberra workers to do repairs, Liberal MLA for Yerrabi Leanne Castley said today.

Sports Minister Yvette Berry has broken her promise to reopen the pool this year saying COVID-19 restrictions meant the Sydney tiling contractor was unable to travel.

Despite promising fortnightly pool updates, the most recent government post from July 23 states the government cannot say when the pool will reopen until “we have a better understanding of when restrictions will lift or unless the preferred tiling contractor is granted an exemption to travel to the ACT.”

“Has Minister Berry sought an exemption for this Sydney tiling contractor to come to Canberra and if so when and what is happening?” Ms Castley said.

“Leading to the budget later this month, the Chief Minister has continually spoken about creating local jobs. Surely this is a missed opportunity to support local workers and businesses.

“The minister must be upfront and tell the community how many Canberra companies were on the preferred tiling contractor list and why one of those could not do the job.

“Gungahlin families have quit the YMCA because of the government’s pool debacle and many children have given up swimming squads or been forced to relocate to the Canberra Olympic Pool or Stromlo.

“The ACT Labor-Greens Government has turned its back on the Gungahlin community at a time it urges Canberrans to keep up exercise for our mental health and well-being,” concluded Ms Castley.