New stadium debate (Canberra)

[KeyserSoze]

New stadium debate

The ACT Government is looking at building a football stadium by the shores of Lake Burley Griffin's West Basin next to Civic as a long-term replacement for the ageing Canberra Stadium.

Sports Minister Andrew Barr has told fellow politicians that officials are investigating a CBD football arena to be co-located with a new convention centre at West Basin that would host the city's rugby code teams as well as other sports.

The idea of building in Civic is an alternative to a rebuild of Belconnen's Canberra Stadium, which is thought to be no more than 10 years away from obsolescence.

Mr Barr's department has already looked at the site of Civic's swimming pool for a football stadium and, although the site was deemed too small, the idea of co-locating the city's main stadium with a convention centre remains attractive to the Government.

A push is already under way for a new national convention centre - the $327 million Australia Forum - to be built at West Basin and the territory has committed $1 million for a feasibility study into the idea.

But Mr Barr revealed this week that the ACT Government was thinking bigger, telling a Legislative Assembly Committee that plans were also being considered for an inner-city waterside stadium.

''In an ideal circumstance, a new [stadium] development associated with a redeveloped convention facility along the lines of the model the city of Dunedin pursued as part of their redevelopment, where a lot of the back-of-house function is aligned,'' he said.

The minister said that Canberra could emulate Melbourne's Docklands Stadium, Brisbane's Lang Park (Suncorp Stadium) or the new harbourside Otago Stadium in Dunedin, New Zealand.

He was also inspired by a recent trip to the home of US baseball outfit the Baltimore Orioles, which is co-located with a convention centre and transport hub.

''The question then is one of available land and siting,'' Mr Barr told his fellow MLAs.

''Across the world the experience appears to be that the best value is from co-locating facilities within urban renewal projects closer to CBDs,'' he said.

''Australian examples are Docklands, the Queensland Government's work around what I'd refer to as Lang Park.''

A staged redevelopment over the next 10 years of Canberra Stadium at Bruce had not been ruled out, but the option was not without its difficulties, Mr Barr said.

''I think the infrastructure [at Bruce] will see us through this current decade,'' he said.

''But there are questions over the [Mal] Meninga Stand in particular.

''You'd have to do it one stand at a time and the disadvantage is there is disruption at the site during that period.''

There is also uncertainty over the ownership structure of the stadium, which is owned by the Australian Sports Commission and leased by the territory, although talks are underway for a long-term lease to the ACT that would enable a rebuild to go ahead.

''The issue is a long-term licence versus ownership,'' Mr Barr said.

''If we were to redevelop on the Canberra Stadium existing site, we would need long-term security of that site and I want the West Basin study to examine this issue.''

Mr Barr also confirmed that the idea of a single, multi-purpose stadium to fulfil all of the capital's top-flight sporting needs had been abandoned after being deemed too costly.

The refurbishment of Manuka Oval had assumed priority in the short term, Mr Barr said, so Canberra could have a ground good enough to host elite Australian Football League and cricket matches.

''The issue of one or two stadia has been resolved, it's just not cost-effective to have just one that would accommodate every user group.

''The moveable seating, all the rest mean that it doesn't end up being a cost-effective model for the size of stadium that we're talking about.''

http://www.canberratimes.com.au/news/lo ... 77359.aspx

[yob]

Build a CBD first.

[Rob]

Ageing? It's barely 10 years old isn't it?

[the crow]

Build a CBD first.

[Timbo]

As a Raiders fan I'm not even remotely interested if it's multipurpose, which Andrew Barr has previously indicated is his preference.

Canberra has two full time sports teams - one plays Rugby Union, one Rugby League. Both have very strong and successful histories. It would be a massive slap in the face if the new stadium was not rectangular.

[Simmo79]

http://g.co/maps/bxfs2

I think this is the block, between Constitution Ave and Parkes way. It's not huge and probably couldn't fit an adequate oval stadium.

[Boba Fett]

The new Dunedin stadium would be a great model for Canberra. Capacity should be no more than 20-25k max - maybe with the ability to add in some temporary seating if there is the occasional need, such as if the Brumbies/Raiders make finals, etc.

Who on earth would hold a convention in Canberra? Can't imagine there would be much demand for a convention centre...

[Simmo79]

Apart from the one across the road from the proposed stadium location?

[Simmo79]

Actually, this might be the location that's mooted http://g.co/maps/kq6gb. It's also a small piece of land, that can't fit much in. I think I prefer the Civic pool location more

[Boba Fett]

Apart from the one across the road from the proposed stadium location?

I'm not saying there isn't one. I'm just querying the need to build a new one. Conventions are usually held in major cities and/or resorts. Canberra isn't either of those...

[Simmo79]

well..yeah...but... there's government conventions and there's coventions that need to be partway between Sydney and Melbourne and conventions on the way to the snow and stuff

[yob]

The new Dunedin stadium would be a great model for Canberra. Capacity should be no more than 20-25k max - maybe with the ability to add in some temporary seating if there is the occasional need, such as if the Brumbies/Raiders make finals, etc.

Who on earth would hold a convention in Canberra? Can't imagine there would be much demand for a convention centre...

I'm of the view that you should limit attendances to finals with the Canberra Faders - limits the brand damage when they choke.

[Adelaide_United_Red]

http://g.co/maps/bxfs2

I think this is the block, between Constitution Ave and Parkes way. It's not huge and probably couldn't fit an adequate oval stadium.

Call me obtuse, but what about Manuka for oval sport requirements(cricket and occasional GWS), haven't enough dollars been sunk into that venue already? I like the idea of a dunedin type stadium, but prefer the Canberra pool location...its walking distance to what passes for a CBD in Canberra. and of course the only 2 drinking holes I can think of close by, King O'malleys and the Casino

[Adelaide_United_Red]

As a Raiders fan I'm not even remotely interested if it's multipurpose, which Andrew Barr has previously indicated is his preference.

Canberra has two full time sports teams - one plays Rugby Union, one Rugby League. Both have very strong and successful histories. It would be a massive slap in the face if the new stadium was not rectangular.

How much money does the ACT govt have? The AFL are not averse to throwing a few mil in the direction of a stadium to get things the way they like them, GCSuns get a great deal thx to the money the AFL threw at the Qld govt..Skoda Stadium...etc...

[Boba Fett]

The Forsyth Barr Stadium (Dunedin) cost a tick under $200m. And that's for a 30,000 capacity stadium that is completely enclosed. You'd want to think that a 20-25k capacity open air stadium should cost less than this - say $150m? At the end of the day, that's the relevant point. Can that sort of money be raised to build a new stadium in Canberra?