The Save Phillip Pool Community group wants any work on Geocon's planned residential towers at Phillip to halt until the ACT Integrity Commission releases its findings into "corruption allegations" around the development.
It comes as Geocon confirmed the existing 50-metre swimming pool at Phillip would re-open for the summer season on Saturday, October 24.
Save Phillip Pool Community spokesperson Sarah Ransom said this week in a submission to the Territory Planning Authority that the group remained convinced the existing outdoor 50-metre pool should remain and that the Integrity Commission should be left to investigate allegations around the planning requirements for the site.
The Integrity Commission announced in June that it had seven months earlier "launched an own-motion investigation into corruption allegations concerning the Phillip pool development".
When asked for any update, a spokesperson for the commission said on Thursday that it could "only confirm it is assessing the circumstances surrounding the suggested changes to the Territory Plan for the Phillip pool site" and couldn't comment on any expected timeline of the investigation.
The Save Phillip Pool Community submission, lodged this week with the planning authority, meanwhile said "fundamentally, no further actions to progress the [Phillip] development should be undertaken by the government until the Integrity Commission releases its findings".
Ms Ransom acknowledged the Integrity Commission's Operation Kingfisher investigation into a building contract at Campbell Primary School took five years for findings to be released.
She remained firm that Geocon shouldn't be allowed to keep working on the project at Phillip until the Integrity Commission made its findings.
"It's a matter of correct process surely," Ms Ransom said.
"The investigation is at own-motion and needs to be taken extremely seriously, and will take the time it takes."
The Territory Planning Authority in December 2025 approved Geocon's first-stage plans to build two 13-storey residential towers, a cafe and new aquatic facility featuring a 25-metre indoor lap pool on the site of the existing Phillip Swimming and Ice Skating Centre.
Geocon last month submitted an amendment, wanting to make multiple changes to the approved plans, saying they would not affect the look of the development but would approve its functionality.
Community comment was sought on the amendment, and the Save Phillip Pool Community put in its submission as a result, lodging it with the planning authority this week.
To suggest the construction of stage one won't affect the operation of the 50m outdoor pool is naive.
"We have many concerns regarding the process surrounding the approval of the original DA itself," the submission read.
"These include changes to the Territory Plan requirements for the site approved in 2023, the lack of overall community consultation on the change to the lease conditions, and the absence of a comprehensive Sports and Recreation needs analysis that ultimately led to removal of the 50m pool requirement in the new Territory Plan.
"Fundamentally, no further actions to progress the development should be undertaken by the government until the Integrity Commission releases its findings."
Geocon wants to ultimately build close to 700 units on the Phillip site in two stages, with only the first stage so far approved.
It plans to continue operating the existing open-air 50-metre pool and ice skating rink during the construction of stage one.
The 50-metre pool would then be demolished in stage two and the ice rink levelled in stage three.
The Save Phillip Pool Community submission this week also raised concerns about how that will play out in reality, with basement construction being planned for near the existing 50-metre pool.
"Given the pool has an existing crack, further cracking during construction would be an inevitable consequence," it read.
"To suggest the construction of stage one won't affect the operation of the 50m outdoor pool is naive. There are further questions such as whether the pool will be open during the basement excavation work or concrete pouring? Will construction work occur during the outdoor swimming season?
"Geocon has had some structural construction issues with excavations in the recent past and ongoing structural integrity issues with its developments."
It's understood Geocon has already demolished the middle-sized and baby's pools at Phillip.
The Canberra Times requested from Geocon an update on the project, including permission to go in and photograph the site, but was told the company was not commenting and would not be allowing any photographs.
The Canberra Times also asked Geocon on Thursday when the 50-metre pool was re-opening for the warmer months. A spokesperson said all the information was on the website. There was nothing about an opening date for the pool on the website. The spokesperson later agreed that was the case and the website was updated to say the 50-metre pool would re-open on October 24.
