Federal election 2022: Zed Seselja pledges $15 million for Viking Park upgrade

The Canberra Times can reveal the proposed upgrade, which would be co-funded by the Canberra Vikings Club and only go ahead if the Morrison government is re-elected, would turn the main rectangular Wanniassa ground at Viking Park into a state-of-the-art boutique 10,000-capacity stadium, with hill areas.

It comes after Treasurer Josh Frydenberg said Senator Seselja had put forward a "strong case" to fund an overhaul of the suburban ground, and less than a week after the senator announced $11.4 million to rehabilitate and reopen the mothballed AIS Arena in Bruce.

The exact contribution from Vikings is unknown, but the senator said it was "significant" and close to dollar-for-dollar, while Vikings Group boss Anthony Hill said it was "in the millions of dollars".

"I think it's a very exciting development for Canberra, for Canberra sport, something that I think will be great for a number of sports and particularly I think local rugby, including men's and women's," Senator Seselja said.

"I think it has the potential for football. And obviously there are possibilities around things like Super Rugby and A-League at some point in the future. So all of those are possibilities and I think it'd be a really good fan experience."

The Vikings boss said he looked forward to offering facilities to reflect the quality of sport he wanted to showcase.

"With teams such as Vikings Rugby, Brumbies Super W, the Matildas and Canberra United using these facilities, it's only right that the stadium and surrounding grounds receive the attention they deserve," Mr Hill said.

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A mock-up of the proposed upgrade shows three new grandstands and one hill behind the goalposts. There are finally plans for women's change rooms and facilities, with the senator acknowledging: "That's been one of the real drawbacks, I know.

"So many of our older sporting facilities don't have proper changeroom facilities for women.

"Of course, we've seen women's football taking off and women's rugby take off as well as a number of other women's sports."

Sporting infrastructure is a political football in the ACT that has increasingly been booted around amid serious competition in the 2022 senate race.

Polls commissioned by climate-focused fundraising group Climate 200 show the sole ACT federal Liberal representative is in the fight for his political life against a group of serious challengers including Wallabies great and independent candidate David Pocock, fellow independent Kim Rubenstein and Greens candidate Tjanara Goreng Goreng.

Mr Pocock backs a more splashy proposal for a world-class national convention centre and stadium complex as a priority nation-building project, but Senator Seselja regards that as a "thought bubble."

"I always feel under pressure," he said.

"But yeah, I think if you look at the record over the last few years, just the amount we've been able to deliver for the last several years, that $2.2 billion pipeline, that's there. This is just adding to that."

"What we saw with AIS last week, that's a small part of the $2.2 billion investment in Canberra."

Senator Seselja said he regarded the proposed Viking Park upgrade as a "bridge" for the ACT until a Civic stadium could be realised.

"This is something we can deliver now and deliver quickly," he said.

"And obviously it's far more affordable than the city stadium. It doesn't do the job the city stadium would do in the future, obviously, being you know, a long-term home for the Raiders and for the Brumbies and other sports but it certainly provides a really outstanding suburban facility."

The Brumbies welcomed the commitment to fund the Viking Park redevelopment.

"A city of Canberra's size needs a variety of venue options for local and national sport, and suburban grounds have proven to be of huge benefit to both local communities and sporting teams across the country, providing great game-day experiences and atmosphere for fans," Brumbies chief executive Phil Thomson said in a statement.

"Since its establishment, Viking Park has played an important role in Canberra's sporting infrastructure and developing it into a first-class suburban ground has the potential to provide diverse options for the Brumbies and other sporting teams.

"I look forward to discussions with the Vikings Group about how we can collaboratively work together on getting the most out of the new facility."

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