ACT Government releases Ice Sports Facility Report

The ACT Government's recently released Ice Sports Facility Options Analysis Report explores the merit of three different options for future facilities in Canberra, one of which is for a $35 million double-storey ice rink.

Commissioned by the ACT Government at a cost of $75,000 in August 2017 and compiled by Lockbridge, the report looks at how big the rink (or rinks) would need to be, the size of the parcel of land required, facility program requirements, capital cost, operating costs and potential funding scenarios.

To inform the report, Lockbridge consulted with representatives from the local and interstate ice sports industry, including operators in Melbourne and Perth.

Over the past 16 months the government also worked closely with the ACT Ice Sports Federation to clarify the type of facility that would meet the needs of our ice sports community, create economic opportunities through competition and other events, and enable Canberrans to stay active and healthy.

The government announced that it will open an Expression of Interest (EOI) process in early 2019 to seek interest from suitably qualified and experienced parties to design, construct, operate and maintain a new ice sports facility in the ACT.

The EOI will specify that the government will consider providing some financial and/or non-financial contributions to support the establishment of the facility, noting the Territory doesn’t intend to directly own or be the primary funding source for a new ice sports facility.

ACT Ice Sports Federation president Tony Prescott hoped the project would move quickly and noted his preference for a two-rink facility, either on the same level or split levels, to cater for the high demand they are experiencing at the existing 38-year-old venue in Phillip (pictured above).

Prescott stated "the Federation has been campaigning for four years for this. We've always said it's not about getting it done tomorrow, it's about getting it right. This is the fifth campaign in 37 years, so we knew it was going to take time."

The EOI will not specify a fixed location for any future ice sport facility, and the process will request that interested parties identify a suitable location.

The ACT Government will also specify a range of core facility requirements and conditions that will need to be addressed by interested parties.

For all enquiries relating to the future EOI process contact David Jeffrey, A/g Deputy Director, Sport and Recreation, ACT Government Chief Ministers, Treasury and Economic Development Directorate on E: david.jeffrey@act.gov.au