An artist’s impression of the proposed Canberra Arena. The Greenway site choice is in dispute. Photo: ACT Government.
The future of the proposed ACT ice sports centre is looking increasingly shaky after the ACT Government reaffirmed its preferred Tuggeranong site and a developer’s representative threatened to walk away from the project if a more central location could not be found.
A City and Environment Directorate official told annual reports hearings on Wednesday (19 November) that the government was locked into the Rowland Crescent site in Greenway, which it offered to the development partners as a direct sale.
Sport and Recreation Minister Yvette Berry told the hearing that no other sites met the required size.
She also said the Tuggeranong community had called for more facilities and reactivation of the town centre.
The ice sports centre, to replace the Phillip ice rink when owner Geocon develops its apartment precinct, was a 2020 election promise.
On Tuesday (18 November), the development partners Cruachan Investments and Pelligra Holdings came under fire for failing to progress the Canberra Arena project in Greenway, with the ACT Ice Sports Federation (ACTISF) launching a petition calling on the Legislative Assembly to force the issue.
But Cruachan Investments director Stephen Campbell, who is also CEO of the Canberra Brave ice hockey franchise, blamed the government for the delays and confirmed that the partners did not want to build in Greenway.
In its 3 October response to the government Project Agreement, they proposed two alternative sites, at Majura Park near Ikea and next to the new Canberra Aquatic Centre to be built in Commonwealth Park.
Mr Campbell indicated that if a change of site was not possible, the partners could abandon the proposal.
“It’s a non-binding heads of agreement, either party can walk away, and look, if the government chooses to walk away, then you know that’s their prerogative, and likewise, you know, we may very well choose to walk away,” he said.
Mr Campbell said the Greenway site was too isolated, too steep and had too many trees.
Ms Berry told the hearing that it was frustrating that the proponents now wanted to change sites after the government thought it had a commitment to Greenway.
She understood Mr Campbell was committed to Canberra Brave, which she called a “worthy team” to support, “but so are every other team”.
“We want to see curling, broom-ball, figure ice-skating, ice dance – all of the other sports being able to use … a twin-sheet facility so that everybody gets a fair and equal amount of time on the ice, regardless of the sport,” she said.
Brave CEO and Cruachan Investments director Stephen Campbell says Greenway is too isolated. Photo: Thomas Lucraft.
The hearing was told that the government had responded to the proponents on Tuesday (18 November), and that they now had until 13 January to decide.
CED executive group manager economic development Daniel Bailey confirmed that the developers had proposed three options, including Greenway, but had taken issue with it and the government’s $16.2 million investment.
Mr Bailey said the government was firm in its preference for Greenway in its letter to the proponents, and requested more information on what was needed to make that site work.
“We want to work with them, we want this to happen,” he said.
“We’re now locked into Tuggeranong and we provided a lot of advice [on that site].”
Mr Bailey said it was too late to consider other options.
“We’re a long way down the road now,” he said. “To change the site would make this an even longer road … this site is there, ready to go.”
A government spokesperson said separately that the approved $16.2 million investment to support the ice sports project was for the nominated site in Tuggeranong.
“The government is not considering the alternative sites nominated by Cruachan/Pelligra,” the spokesperson said.
“The detailed proposal submitted by Cruachan/Pelligra and subsequently approved by the ACT Government, was for the nominated site in Greenway.
“The draft contract (Project Agreement) prepared by the government and shared with Cruachan/Pelligra on 18 July 2025 was for the nominated site in Greenway.”
Asked if the government was prepared to walk away from the arrangement, the spokesperson said the government was still in commercial negotiations with the proponent.
“Any decisions concerning the future of the arrangement will be guided by the outcomes of those negotiations,” the spokesperson said.
The government did not rule out finding extra funding for the Greenway site, saying the current process needed to run its course.
