ACT Budget support for indoor sports facilities

June 7, 2017

Canberra’s ice sports community today welcomed the ACT Government’s 2017-18 Budget ongoing commitment to delivering infrastructure and investment in the national capital’s public spaces and places.

ACT Ice Sports Federation president Tony Prescott said he was pleased with Chief Minister Andrew Barr’s funding of early planning on future locations for indoor sports facilities.

“The 2017-18 Budget specifically provides $5.4m to maintain quality sports grounds for local clubs and kids sport,” Prescott said. “This of course is in addition to funding already committed last year for the ice sports to work with government to scope out options for a new state-of-the-art national ice sports centre,” he said.

In September last year, the chief minister allocated $75,000 from existing funds earmarked for the development of new projects and facilities in the ACT.

“The latest Budget support for sports is an excellent omen,” Prescott said.

“The Budget specifically funds early planning on future locations for indoor sports facilities, demonstrating the value the government, and Sport and Recreation minister Yvette Berry see in an active, healthy community.

“The ACT Ice Sports Federation is progressing its consultations with ACT government officials with a vision of establishing Canberra as Australia’s ice sports capital.

“We support a modern complex boasting two (Olympic sized 60m x 30m) ice sheets, with the main rink having plexi-glass, warm-up areas and incorporating approximately 2000 permanent seats.

"The second rink would have limited seating, standing room, and netting.

"The centre would have all the mod cons expected of a facility that would enable Canberra to host national championships and international tournaments," he added.

The federation says there is huge potential to grow the ice sports in Canberra, an indoor activity which offers participants and spectators alike a close-up experience with figure skating, speed skating, ice hockey, broomball and recreational skating.

“The sheer extent of success already being achieved by Canberra’s male and female ice sports athletes on the national and international stage, along with a new facility, would enable us to build on that success,” Prescott said.

“It will not just benefit Canberra’s very talented young athletes but all of Australia’s ice sports and the wider Canberra community as well.

“We remain very excited by Chief Minister Andrew Barr's commitment to work in partnership with us towards a facility of national and international standing.

“Optimistically, we think a timetable of consultation, planning and design in 2017-18, with construction in 2018-19, enabling an operational facility sometime in 2019, is achievable,” he added.

Further information/interviews: Tony Prescott, President, ACTISF