ACT government weighs up Western Sydney Stadium blueprint

The NRL has urged ACT Chief Minister Andrew Barr to explore the prospect of building a Western Sydney Stadium-like venue in the capital, which will hold 30,000 people.

The territory government is in talks with the Australian Sports Commission about buying Canberra Stadium, which could pave the way for a redevelopment of the existing venue.

However the government could develop the land with the funds going towards a new roofed stadium in the CBD, one Canberra Raiders chief executive Don Furner and the ACT Brumbies have been longing for.

"In my most recent meeting with the NRL in relation to future stadium design and facility needs, they were very keen for us to have a look at the Parramatta Stadium rebuild that’s currently underway," Barr said.

"We’ve gone and done that, and that does present a different model for stadium delivery. It’s a much more compact footprint, much steeper, that may well be a design that could fit more comfortably into the available site of the CBD.

"We continue to engage, but I do want to stress that in terms of the sequence of larger infrastructure priorities, we are more advanced and will be delivering a new Canberra Theatre precinct before we will be delivering a new stadium."

The territory government set aside $1.8 million for upgrades to the Canberra Theatre this year, having allocated $700,000 to start developing a business case for a new theatre.

The size of the current theatre has excluded Canberra from hosting major events, so the an extension or a new centre built on the site of the Mooseheads car park have been floated as options.

Barr has reaffirmed his commitment to an expanded theatre precinct after he said the prospect of buying Canberra Stadium may not come to fruition for another decade as negotiations continue with the Australian Sports Commission.

The commission is planning to downsize the campus at Bruce and reshape the way the AIS is used by athletes, coaches and sports scientists but the future of Canberra Stadium remains unclear.

The ACT government pays $350,000 per year to rent Canberra Stadium for ACT Brumbies and Canberra Raiders matches while also spending money to use the AIS Arena and the AIS pool.

"The acquisition of that by the ACT government would provide one pathway to a stadium infrastructure renewal. [Civic Stadium] is not a short-term infrastructure priority," Barr said.

"It’s a project the territory will consider in the 2020s, but it’s not something that will feature in the coming budget round or indeed the 2020 territory budget in terms of financing a build.

"There’s virtually two options: if we’re able to secure an agreement with the Commonwealth in relation to the existing stadium and surrounding land, then that would give an option, either for a rebuild on that land or the alternate option is the site we’ve identified in the CBD.

"You wouldn’t have two rectangular stadiums in Canberra. Acquisition of the site at Bruce would allow for a number of different options.

"In terms of the pursuit of a CBD stadium, the proceeds of the sale of that land at Bruce would be directed to finance a CBD stadium. Alternatively, redevelopment in that precinct could also finance a rebuild of the existing stadium."

About $1.3 million will be spent on improving Canberra Stadium this year, and up to $3.7 million over the forward estimates, however Barr says "prior to owning that asset, we would not be investing significantly in that asset".

Barr says the government is exploring a range of options to improve the amount of shaded areas at Manuka Oval with undercover seating options at a premium.

It comes as the venue is being prepared to host a Test match between Australia and Sri Lanka from February 1, with Cricket Australia desperately eyeing a sell-out crowd following a lacklustre turnout of 1824 at the annual Prime Minister's XI fixture last week.

Barr says he raised the matter of a lack promotion with Cricket Australia after the governing body took over the management and operation of the fixture, saying it was not up to the standard of Cricket ACT's promotion in recent years.