ACT government open to private investor building Civic Stadium

But he feels the capital's best chance of getting a new stadium is through a change of federal government - although The Canberra Times is aware of a private investor that is keen to take the job on.

Canberra sporting facilities, or lack thereof, was quickly becoming a hot topic ahead of the federal election after it became clear the current Coalition government had no appetite to provide funding for a new stadium in the ACT.

Instead, The Canberra Times revealed Liberal Senator Zed Seselja's proposal to redevelop Viking Park into a 10,000-seat venue.

That leaves the 45-year-old Canberra Stadium as the only major venue in the capital able to host Canberra Raiders and ACT Brumbies games, as well as international fixtures involving the Socceroos, Wallabies and Kangaroos.

The federal government still hasn't finalised its plans for the AIS precinct, which includes Canberra Stadium and the currently shut AIS Arena, despite having finalised a business case for the site's future three years ago.

AIS Arena has been shut since 2020 due to the cost of bringing it back up to modern safety standards.

That's left one of Canberra's most successful sporting teams without their usual home venue to play their WNBL finals games.

The ACT government's keen to build a new Civic Stadium, but doesn't have the funds due to the Mr Fluffy asbestos debacle and the coronavirus pandemic.

That makes a private investor the most likely way the stadium would be built in the near future.

Barr was open to the possibility, despite the uproar that surrounded the Manuka Green proposal put forward by AFL team GWS Giants and developer Grocon.

But a public backlash in the lead-up to the 2016 ACT election led to the proposal being quashed.

"Yes. However, a fully privately funded stadium seems unlikely unless it was a grand philanthropic gesture from one or more high-wealth individuals," Barr told The Canberra Times.

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The government would need to make it worthwhile for a private investor.

That could either be through donating the land on which the stadium was built or the government agreeing to a buy-back scheme when they were able to raise the funds down the track.

The future University of NSW campus in Reid - where CIT currently sits - was one example of the government donating land for a development.

"It would appear that the current federal government has no plans to help fund a new 'National' Stadium for Canberra," Barr said.

"It is hoped that a change of federal government will allow for a dialogue with the ACT government on the renewal of the AIS precinct ahead of the 2032 Olympics.

"This presents the best short-term pathway to improving both arena and stadium facilities for Canberra."

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