Construction is still set to begin on the $24.5 million Home of Football in Canberra's north by early 2022, after an assessment of the Throsby site did not reveal any cultural or heritage issues, a government spokesperson has confirmed.
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The ACT government was undertaking a cultural and heritage assessment of the 28-hectare site between Throsby and Forde, which was causing delays to the project, before it could begin community consultation.
The project is set to include grass and synthetic pitches, indoor futsal fields and an office complex which will allow Capital Football to relocate from its Deakin offices.
However, there were fears the project would not be ready in time for the 2023 FIFA World Cup as planned.
A spokesperson from Sports Minister Yvette Berry's office said the cultural and heritage assessment did not reveal anything that would delay development on the project.
They said the government aimed to begin construction later in the year or in early 2022, pending planning approval of the project.
"The next step will be to finalise the design and planning documentation so engagement with the community can commence," they said.
"The ACT government remains committed to delivering an elite football facility by June 2023."
Following the community consultation, a development application is expected to be lodged with the government later this year.
Another issue raising further delay concerns about the project was revealed in the government's budget in February.
The budget revealed the pledged $20 million funding for the project had been adjusted, with the majority of the $10.47 million that was scheduled to be pumped into the project over the last two financial years being pushed back to 2022-23.
A total of $8 million has been estimated for the 2022-23 financial year, while $2.47 million has been slated for 2021-22.
The final $4.5 million has been pledged by Capital Football.
Community consultation was slated to begin in "coming weeks" in February, but is still yet to get underway.
Despite the delays, Capital Football chief executive officer Phil Brown said the timeline of a June 2023 finish had not changed.
"We're just revisiting some of the numbers in the business plan that's associated with it, given that some of the site layout has changed," he said.
"And then the government need to engage in some community consultation in and around the Throsby area prior to the government submitting the DA."
Although the territory government is delivering the community consultation, Brown said the federation would be involved in it also.
Despite the government not making a bid to host any of the World Cup matches, Capital Football still hopes the ACT and the new facility will play a role as either a training base or host warm-up matches.
Isobel Cootes
Sports reporter at The Canberra Times. A Novocastrian with a passion for football (or soccer as they call it in the capital) via The Examiner and The Port Lincoln Times.
Sports reporter at The Canberra Times. A Novocastrian with a passion for football (or soccer as they call it in the capital) via The Examiner and The Port Lincoln Times.
