The city waterfront project which aims to reclaim part of Lake Burley Griffin and turn a section of West Basin into apartments has again been put on the slow burn as negotiations with the Commonwealth continue.
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Funding of $10 million has been set aside for the reclamation in the next financial year with an additional $25 million to follow but will depend on reaching an agreement with the National Capital Authority.
At the top of the renewal authority's priority list is the Canberra Theatre redevelopment with $1.1 million set aside to design and plan a new centre on the existing city site.
Meanwhile, plans for a new multi-sports stadium to replace the existing Bruce facility and a new pool in the city remain on the government backburner.
West Basin has stalled since the first phase, Henry Rolland Park, was delivered with around 100 metres of lakefront promenade and public parkland.
The major redevelopment, which would reclaim up to 25 metres of Lake Burley Griffin and require thousands of tonnes of heavy rock and infill, remains on hold.
This area has been planned as mixed use residential with the dwellings staggered in height so taller buildings are built closer to the city and lower-rise closer to the lake.
Also included in the plans are an urban park with an extra 500 metres of lakefront boardwalk, cycleways, a pavilion and recreational areas.
Around least 2000 apartments are planned for the area, many of them of 100 square metres or more.
City Renewal Authority board member and landscape architect Professor Ken Maher said the West Basin project was an opportunity that "other cities would cry out for" and that leaving the area untouched would be a poor outcome.
Development of the area would also be contingent on developing a solution to the blockage posed by Parkes Way.
Chief Minister Andrew Barr indicated that the West Basin project would be part of a forthcoming announcement about the government's 10-year "forward infrastructure plan" later this year.
He suggested that this long term plan would address the need for a future new stadium, the proposed lowering of Parkes Way, and an aquatic centre to replace the ageing and leaky Civic pool.
"Some of these projects are contingent on engagement with the Commonwealth," Mr Barr said.
"We can't go further [with the West Basin project] until we get a licence and works approval from the Commonwealth.
"What we're proposing there is entirely consistent with the national capital plan and goes back to the Howard government."
Mr Barr indicated that negotiations underway with the Commonwealth on this project and others may be linked with the need for additional land for diplomatic missions.
One of the suggested land swap sites for West Basin is an undisclosed parcel of land in Curtin.
"Nothing comes for free with this Commonwealth government. There is always some behind the scenes machinations which will be part of the task ahead," he said.
The empty traffic "cloverleaf" to the west of Commonwealth Avenue, opposite the QT Building and bordered by London Circuit is a primary redevelopment target for the government. This 22,000 square metre parcel of land could potentially hold as many as 350 dwellings.
The land within the cloverleaf is unserviced and would need significant works preparation for development according to the authority's executive director Malcolm Snow.
Discussions between the ACT government and the Commonwealth about the future of Bruce stadium are ongoing.
"The [new][ stadium hinges upon . . . successful negotiations regarding the existing stadium and with the Institute of Sport's desire to shrink its footprint," Mr Barr said.
"Obviously it would be partially funded through the sale and redevelopment of that land. We don't own that land; it's a Commonwealth asset so it is necessary to engage with them."
