An artistic render of inside the Canberra Arena. Photo: ACT Government.
The developers of Tuggeranong’s beleaguered ice rink facility say they’re working to get the project up as quickly as possible after receiving a nudge from the ACT Government to “get on with this”.
But they’ve also warned they’re beginning to look for alternative sites – in case the south-side doesn’t work out.
Plans for the “Canberra Arena” were first announced by the ACT Government back in 2016, with land set aside on Rowland Rees Crescent in Greenway and $16.2 million promised in funding.
It was to feature two international-standard rinks for a variety of ice sports – including figure skating, broomball, speed skating and ice hockey – as well as “curling sheets” (reportedly a first for Australia) and space for 3600 spectators.
But nearly 10 years later, nothing has changed at the site.
In that time, ACT ice hockey team Canberra Brave has started playing its home games at a newly constructed temporary ice rink at the AIS Arena in Bruce – in front of sell-out crowds.
The arena came up again in the lead up to the October 2024 election, when ACT Chief Minister Andrew Barr said the government wanted to receive a development application (DA) “sooner rather than later”.
Cruachan Investments, one of the companies backing the project, subsequently told Region the delay was due to a number of issues at the site, including water run-off and drainage, traffic control, and about 200 trees – some protected under the ACT’s tree laws – that have to be removed for the enormous building.
“As a consequence, that required us to do some additional modelling work,” director Stephen Campbell, who is also CEO of the Canberra Brave, said at the time.
Construction costs have also blown out from an initial $35-$45 million to well north of $50 million.
The developers say about 200 trees have to be removed to make way for the building. Photo: ACT Government.
This week, while announcing budget commitments for Tuggeranong, Mr Barr said he was “optimistic the developer, proponents and owners … have every reason to get on with this”.
“I think that it is pretty well demonstrated that there is a market for an arena-style ice-skating rink in the ACT, but something that’s permanent,” he said.
“The decision was deliberately taken to make land available in Tuggeranong for the facility because we recognise that a major new sporting facility for Tuggeranong would be a great boost to the town centre. We set the land aside and we’ve put money on the table.”
However, the government is yet to receive a DA.
In an update this week, Mr Campbell told Region the final contract paperwork with the government would be drawn up by mid-July.
He reiterated the developer’s commitment to Tuggeranong, but added ongoing challenges at the site had pushed them towards “working on a backup plan”.
“We’re working on the basis that Tuggeranong will go ahead until such time that it’s determined that it’s not feasible.
“But so that we don’t lose time – concurrent with our work on Tuggeranong – we are identifying other sites.”
He said issues continued to include the “considerable costs” in levelling the site for the large-footprint buildings, and in removing the circa-200 trees.
“Some are protected – most of them aren’t – but it’s the sheer volume of them. We’re trying to work through different placement concepts to mitigate the number of trees that would need to be removed but then, when you do that, it obviously poses other issues,” he said.
Canberra Brave’s new temporary home at the AIS Arena. Photo: Michelle Kroll.
Another issue has reared its head due to the sheer popularity of the recent Canberra Brave games at the AIS.
“Another concern is …. how we adequately deal with traffic flows in what is a fairly concentrated side road.”
Mr Campbell wouldn’t be drawn on the other possible locations, or a timeline for Tuggeranong.
“Look, every time I’m asked that question and I’ve given an answer, I’ve been wrong, so I’m reluctant,” he said.
“We are working as fast as we can. As I’ve said publicly, I have several vested interests in this, not the least, of course, is my involvement with Canberra Brave.”
Mr Barr has said “the government’s preference is for a new ice-skating facility in Tuggeranong”. When asked if the project would lose government support if the developers walked away from the site, he added: “There would be a lot of views on it”.
“We’ll be listening to the broader ice sports community here in Canberra, because … it is about more than Canberra Brave. It also is about a major project in Tuggeranong’s town centre.”
