A $150 million centre to showcase Indigenous history and culture would be built on the banks of Lake Burley Griffin under an ambitious plan pitched to the Morrison government.
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The Canberra Times can reveal a private consortium, which includes the former co-chair of the National Indigenous Congress, is behind the vision for a new tourism attraction in the parliamentary triangle.
The proponents believe the hi-tech National Dreaming Centre could sit alongside the planned National Resting Place, with the two combining to fill the conspicuous absence of a major Indigenous building in the heart of the national capital.
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The backers want the federal government to contribute up to $50 million, and surrender the lakeside car park between National Library of Australia and Reconciliation Park, to help bring the project to life.
Minister for Indigenous Australians Ken Wyatt and the National Capital Authority have met with the proponents, but say they've yet to be presented with a formal plan or requests for funding.
Former ACT Office of Indigenous Affairs boss Nic Manikis and Sydney-based architect and developer Dominic Choy are pushing the project.
Mr Manikis has brought on board Rod Little, the inaugural co-chair of the now defunct National Indigenous Congress and former head of the ACT's Aboriginal and Torrens Strait Islander Elected Body.
According to the proposal document, seen by The Canberra Times, the National Dreaming Centre would be an "Australian first in cultural tourism" which used virtual reality and holographic technology to tell the story of Indigenous culture and history.
"Visitors will be taken on an immersive journey as they experience and learn about the the unique culture, endeavours and achievements of Aboriginal Australians," the document states.
"This state-of-the-art national cultural and educational facility will promote truth-telling in the narrative of Australia's history."
Mr Little, who now runs an family-owned venture promoting First Nation's art, said the attraction would aim to highlight the positive contribution of Indigenous Australians.
"The proposal for a dreaming centre will take you on this journey, a historical journey. It will explain [history] to people from our perspectives. And it's not the negative. It doesn't have a negative view, it has the positive view," he said.
Mr Manikis said the bold project would "rectify the blind spot on the mind" of Australia's capital, a reference to the absence of a significant building dedicated to Indigenous culture and history in the parliamentary triangle.
"We have the parliamentary that triangle represents the democracy of our nation, we have two Parliament Houses, we have the High Court, the national institutions, but we prioritise a portrait gallery and the science and technology centre, which are all good things, but we prioritise them over recognition of First Nations people - and I think that's pretty poor," he said.
There have been long-running calls for a dedicated Indigenous institution to be be built in Canberra, including a memorial and healing centre for the Stolen Generation.
The Morrison government has allocated $4.7 million toward a business case for a National Resting Place, which would house the repatriated ancestral remains of Indigenous Australians.
The government has yet to announce a site, although it's almost certain that it would be in the parliamentary triangle.
The proponents of the National Dreaming Centre are eying the car park next to the library for their development.
The proposal document states that the National Capital Authority suggested the carpark site as a suitable location at a meeting with Mr Manikis and Mr Little on February 2.
The authority confirmed to The Canberra Times that its chief executive and chief planner met with the pair to discuss what it described as their plans for a "cultural theme park".
The Canberra Times understands the project was originally named National Dreamtime Park, before it was rebranded.
The authority's spokeswoman did not respond directly when asked if it had suggested the carpark site as a suitable location and if it was prepared to hand over, or sell, the prized parliamentary triangle land to a private consortium.
In a statement, the spokeswoman said: "The concept, at that stage, wasn't fully formed and we suggested that they continue to speak to other areas including the ACT government. No further action was required."
Mr Manikis pitched the plan to Mr Wyatt on March 16, before a follow up meeting with the National Indigenous Australians Agency, the minister's office has confirmed.
The Canberra Times understands that proponents agreed to rebrand the project and establish an Indigenous advisory panel to guide its development following the meeting with the agency.
Mr Wyatt's spokeswoman did not respond directly when asked if the Morrison government supported the proposal or would be willing to contribute the up to $50 million requested by the consortium.
"It is not appropriate to provide details of discussions with potential funding applicants as there is a mutual expectation between parties that such discussions remain confidential, however we can share that no funding proposal has yet been provided to the government," the spokeswoman said.
The spokeswoman said the government remained committed to the National Resting Place proposal.
"This precinct would support reconciliation nationally, promote education on Australia's 65,000+ history, and respect for the oldest living cultures as an important part of our national identity," she said.
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