Planning Minister Mick Gentleman has given the green light to the application by Hockey ACT to deconcessionalise its leases in Lyneham and Tuggeranong to expand the sites, which would include childcare centres.
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Mr Gentleman also gave in-principle support to waive fees for the deconcessionalisation.
He said the proposal was in the public interest and has sent it to planning authorities for a final decision.
At Lyneham, Hockey ACT runs the National Hockey Centre, which has an indoor pitch, three outdoor pitches and offices.
Hockey ACT chief executive Gavin Hunt said the group planned a $2.5 million refurbishment of the Lyneham centre, including leasing space to other sports groups, some of which had formerly been at ACT Sport House in Hackett. It also planned to lease to gyms and sports shops.
At Greenway, in Tuggeranong, there are two outdoor synthetic hockey pitches, a club house, changing rooms and a car park.
Mr Hunt said childcare centres would be built at both sites, each catering for 120 children. The centres would be run by a commercial provider, now being finalised.
The redevelopment would allow Hockey ACT to become a self-sustaining organisation over the next five to 10 years, less reliant on increasing membership fees and revenue from the ACT government, he said. The proposals would not be viable without the waiver of fees for deconcessionalisation, he said.
Many clubs were originally granted leases at discount rates as not-for-profit community organisations, and to diversify into housing and commercial development, they must first have the concessional status of their lease removed.
Figures earlier this year showed that 11 clubs had applied since 2011 to have the concessional status of their lease removed, but in some cases the fee was waived or reduced by the government. An $860,000 fee was waived for ACT Tennis's redevelopment of its Lyneham site.
Mr Gentleman said the new childcare centres would provide revenue for the sporting facilities at both sites.
"Expanding both recreational sites will enhance the current facilities, and will also provide Hockey ACT with an income stream to reinvest in the centres for community use. I believe that their proposals will potentially benefit the wider community, broaden the outdoor recreational facility and its uses and help secure Hockey ACT's long-term viability," he said.
