Whoever buys the Big Splash water park will still have to ensure the facility is reopened to the public by November 1, according to the ACT government.
Planning Minister Chris Steel in the Assembly on Friday said the orders by Access Canberra for the 50-metre pool at Big Splash to be re-opened by November 1 would not change.
"I'm not aware of any decision that Access Canberra's taken to step back from that commitment," Mr Steel said.
"They are still going to very closely monitor the implementation of that and it is positive to see Purdon, on behalf of the mortgagee, making a statement that they still do intend to follow through with that commitment on opening in November.
"Nothing has changed in terms of the government's position. We want to see the pool open as soon as possible. We want to see the full range of aquatic facilities being provided.
"It is positive in today's announcement that it appears the slides won't be demolished. In fact, they will be fenced off to allow the sale to proceed."
A spokesperson for the government also confirmed the November 1 opening date would be a condition of the lease.
Consultants Purdon Associates revealed this week that Big Splash would be listed for sale by the mortgagee, after the water park went into receivership in January.
The Save Big Splash group has called on the government to ensure the sale process "is transparent, that any new owner is held to the full spirit of the Crown lease and not just its minimum requirements, and that the ACT Aquatic Strategy properly accounts for what Big Splash could and should be in the right hands".
"The government has said nothing is off the table. We intend to hold them to that, especially to make sure this sale delivers a genuine outcome for the community, not just the minimum the lease requires," the group's spokesperson Amelia Tattam said.
Mr Steel told the Assembly on Friday he hoped an operator who could "operate the full range of aquatic facilities" did purchase the lease to the site.
"The government, again, hasn't ruled out any options in relation to Big Splash," he told the Assembly.
"We continue to have conversations outside the regulatory process ... with the mortgagees, and between officials, to make sure, that we understand where they're up to in the process and that they are continuing steps towards opening the pool.
"We want to see a good outcome for the community and we hope this announcement today will see the sale of this site to someone who can operate the full range of aquatic facilities that the community wants and that they've enjoyed over the past few decades."
Ginninderra MLA Jo Clay asked Mr Steel what penalties would be applied should the November 1 deadline to reopen Big Splash not be achieved.
Mr Steel said there were "a range of penalties" and that the government was reviewing the range of powers available to Access Canberra in relation to compliance of leases.
But, Mr Steel, said "ultimately what we want to see is the lessee, whoever that may be in the future, bring this site back into use, back into recreational use for the community.
"The government continues to be clear we have no intention whatsoever of rezoning this site. We want it to remain for that restricted recreational use and that will continue on the site. We just need someone to take it over," he said.
