A new proposal for a City Precinct housing an “intergenerational” convention centre and sports stadium worthy of the national capital has the support of the Canberra Business Chamber and over 20 organisations.
The proposal, titled ‘Realising the National Capital Plan: Creating Intergenerational Infrastructure for the National Capital Region’, was released on Thursday to the ACT Chief Minister, Andrew Barr, and the Prime Minister.
It envisions a City Precinct, replacing the ageing and increasingly dilapidated stadium at Bruce and convention centre in Civic, co-located a site on and around the Civic Pool on Constitution Avenue, and is supported by over 20 organisations from sporting, business and
union backgrounds. The chosen location is consistent with the vision of Walter Burley Griffin.
“There is no doubt that the existing stadium facilities have operated beyond their useful life and are a barrier to attracting cultural events and sporting activities to the national capital,” said Chamber CEO Graham Catt.
“The National Convention Centre is the only centre in the country that hasn’t expanded its footprint since it was built, and that results in a lack of capacity and a situation where we often can’t accommodate important national and global events. The national capital and the capital region deserve better.”
The proposal seeks agreement between the Commonwealth and the ACT for the return of unused land ceded to the AIS when Self Government Land Allocations were determined, but which in the intervening 33 years have not been used for that purpose.
According to the Chamber, the delivery model for the new facilities suits a Public Private Partnership (PPP) with that land used as an “offset” to the cost of such facilities and would also include the Pool site, existing Convention Centre site and adjacent Glebe Park land included in the PPP’s base funding model.
“Groups and stakeholders from the business, sporting, entertainment and hospitality sectors all see this proposal as an opportunity to unite behind the government and achieve a shared vision for new infrastructure to replace ageing structures, specifically the Convention Centre and the outdoor Bruce Stadium,” Mr Catt said.
While there has been division and decades of discussion about the placement of a new stadium, there has been no such dissent about the need for a meeting and convention centre appropriate to a national capital in a city location.
The proposal outlines changes to the design of a stadium, called the “Inverted Bowl”, that reduces the gross land area required by up to 20 per cent, creates an events space that meets current and future needs, and satisfies the requirements of sports using a rectangular field.
“These elements are key to a joint development approach to deliver convention and stadium outcomes, utilising established entertainment, hospitality and transport infrastructure of the city to augment their integration as a precinct within the wider cityscape,” the Chamber said in a statement.
“This is a unique opportunity, when supported by a PPP business model, for intergenerational infrastructure to be delivered without adverse impacts on governments’ bottom lines,” Mr Catt said.
ACT Government
Chief Minister Andrew Barr will look more closely at the proposal in 2023.
“The Government thanks the proponents for the unsolicited submission,” he said. “As is the courteous and respectful thing to do, we will examine the proposal in detail in the new year.
“At first glance, the concept is heavily contingent on a large number of external factors coming together in an unlikely way, including a significant Commonwealth Government cash investment, land transfer to the Territory at no cost, and extensive planning and land zoning changes that would require approval through the Commonwealth Parliament.
“The stadium design proposal is innovative and may address some of the site constraints. Further technical analysis will examine these possibilities and the additional costs associated with the design and proposed roofing technology.
“As there is no clear project proponent, no active procurement process underway, and the land suggested to be bundled into the proposed Public-Private Partnership is mostly not the ACT Government’s to sell, the unsolicited submission could only be considered as a pre-proposal using the policy framework outlined in the Government’s Partnership Framework – Guidelines for Unsolicited Proposals.
“The Government outlined the pathway for delivery of major infrastructure projects in Canberra through our 2019 long-term infrastructure plan. We are updating the plan in 2023 to reflect the delivery of many projects and the progress on others.
“Through this process, we have identified the challenges associated with building a stadium on the Civic Pool site. As a result, we are looking at alternative site options. This includes exploring the feasibility of a new, or improved, stadium as part of a partnership with the Commonwealth to rejuvenate the AIS precinct ahead of the 2032 Olympic Games to be hosted by Australia.”
Canberra Liberals welcome proposal
Canberra Liberals leader Elizabeth Lee said a city stadium remains firmly on the table for the Canberra Liberals.
“There is a reason why cities all across the world build stadiums in the city centre,” Ms Lee said.
“The benefits of having something as big as a stadium in the city with all the surrounding infrastructure is because of the ongoing economic benefits that flows on through to the entire city.
“Canberra has missed out on and will struggle to attract major sporting events and artists because we do not have the appropriate infrastructure to be able to host national and international events.
“This is very important for the future of our city and I acknowledge the leadership from the Canberra sporting and business community in the absence of any meaningful direction from the Chief Minister.
“The Canberra Liberals will continue to liaise with and work closely with various stakeholders on this issue,” Ms Lee concluded.
The opposition leader accused Mr Barr of backflipping on the city stadium in the last six months, and said it is clear the project will not happen under a Labor-Greens government.
“After spending 13 years stringing the Canberra public along, the Chief Minister was very clear in June this year that it was impossible to build a stadium in the city,” Ms Lee said.
“He then changed his argument during Estimates Hearings in August, saying the main reason for not building a stadium was due to the fact it would be used so infrequently and would be a ‘dead space’ for much of the year.
“I find it astounding the Chief Minister has now come out and said he will examine the proposal for the inverted-bowl stadium in what is his third position on the matter in recent times, despite the Sports Minister on the same day saying there is no consideration for a city stadium.”
Mr Barr retorted: “Governments need to be able to manage a wide range of infrastructure projects. Canberra’s growing population will require investment in a wide range of infrastructure over the next ten years including health, housing, education, transport, and community facilities.
“The Leader of the Opposition demonstrated this week that this is all too hard for the Liberal Party. The conservative elements still clearly pull the strings in her party. They are now onto their third position on light rail in six years.”
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