The Kingston Arts Precinct is not likely to be completed until 2025, more than 20 years after the ACT Government first mooted developing the Kingston Foreshore into Canberra’s visual arts zone.

Today, the ACT Government announced it would end its contract with construction company Geocon; instead, the government’s own Suburban Land Agency would take over the project.

The government identified the Foreshore as a possible major arts precinct in 2003, and funded artsACT in 2010 to develop a Kingston Arts Precinct Strategy. Geocon won the government tender for the $78 million precinct in 2017, and signed a contract in July 2019. Construction was meant to begin that year.

“It’s important for a balanced outcome to be achieved, and to date we have not seen the progress that we had hoped,” said Chief Minister Andrew Barr.

“Therefore, following a review on how best to progress the project to integrate arts and heritage, the ACT Government has decided to change the delivery method.”

Heritage and design complexities required the government to take the lead in developing the area appropriately, the spokesperson said. The government is reviewing the project timeline, recognising complex site conditions and infrastructure approval processes.

Despite the Geocon imbroglio, the Chief Minister was adamant the project would go ahead.

“We are committed to ensuring this is a premier arts precinct that supports the ACT’s thriving arts community for generations to come,” Mr Barr said.

The precinct is envisaged as “a space that will enable the arts and creative industries to flourish in the Canberra region and accommodate a number of Canberra’s leading arts organisations”.

Tara Cheyne, ACT Minister for the Arts, said it would be “a leading destination for visitors and locals to explore contemporary visual arts and culture in the ACT”.

The Suburban Land Agency will continue consultation with arts organisations, stakeholders, and the community to finalise the design and development of the precinct.

However, the Canberra Liberals have accused ACT Labor of breaking a 2020 election promise to deliver the Kingston Arts Precinct.

“It’s now very clear that they won’t be able to deliver it at all,” said Nicole Lawder, Shadow Arts Minister. 

“The Kingston Arts Precinct has suffered years of delays already, and again the Labor-Greens Government has brought us back to square one.”

According to Ms Lawder, the arts sector reported the ACT Government had ignored their requests for more information. 

“Consultation with community groups continues to worsen; residents feel as though they’ve been left in the dark and sidelined by this government. After years of delays” – including to the Canberra Theatre Complex upgrades – “the community is losing faith that this Labor-Greens Government can deliver any projects on time.

“The Labor-Greens Government is proving that they’re lazy and tired. They need to start delivering on their promises to the Canberra community,” Ms Lawder said.