ACT Liberals promise new waterfront Canberra stadium if elected

The opposition Liberal Party have pledged that it will build a new 30,000-seat stadium on the Acton Waterfront in central Canberra if they assume government after next month's elections to the Australian Capital Territory Legislative Assembly.

With the future of a major stadium in nation’s capital having subject of considerable speculation over recent years, the current ACT Government is committed to updating the GIO Stadium on the Australian Institute of Sport campus in the suburb of Bruce.

While having previously considered a city centre site, the potential $3 billion had been deemed to have made such a development economically unviable.

However, speaking yesterday, ACT Liberals leader Elizabeth Lee says her party plans to begin construction on a new 30,000-seat stadium at Acton Waterfront in its first term of government if it wins October's territory election.

Advising that the Liberals are the only party that will build a new stadium in Canberra, Lee said “it is now abundantly clear that the Canberra Liberals are the only party that will build a new stadium for our city."

Lee said her party would undertake the design and preparation work immediately, at a cost "around the $700 million to $800 million mark", with a plan to commence construction in its first term of government.

She went on to say said the stadium would bring enormous social, cultural, and economic benefit to the ACT, increasing tourism and positively impacting hospitality businesses and accommodation providers, adding “a new stadium located in the city will signal to the rest of Australia and the world that Canberra is open for business, and open to host world-class events.

"(The venue) will provide our local elite sporting teams such as the Raiders, Brumbies and Canberra United with a modern facility and will be a venue that attracts international sporting events, state of origin and world-class music and entertainment.”

Lee pointed out that the chosen site at Acton Waterfront would not require other buildings to be knocked down or excessive associated works, as required at other sites put forward by the ACT Government.

Lee has also announced plans to construct a new national convention centre on the site of Canberra Olympic Pool in Civic.

In a statement, an ACT Labor spokesperson said a stadium development was prohibited in the West Basin under the National Capital Plan.

The spokesperson advised "the West Basin precinct is a Designated Area, as defined in the National Capital Plan, with strict land uses, and considerable planning controls and clear building height limits.

"A stadium is not permitted on the land. West Basin is not an appropriate location for a structure of that size.''

The current GIO Stadium has a capacity of 25,000 and serves as home for the NRL’s Canberra Raiders and Super Rugby’s ACT Brumbies.

Images: Concepts for the ACT Liberals' proposed new stadium on the Acton Waterfront. Credit: Canberra Liberals.