First strides taken in ACT's new ice sports facility

August 15, 2017

CANBERRA.-- Canberra's ice sports community today lauded the ACT Government's commissioning of a detailed options paper for a new national ice sports centre.

Chief Minister Andrew Barr and deputy Chief Minister and Minister for Sport Yvette Berry last September committed $75,000 towards planning for a new ice sports facility.

"This is the next ‘stride’ on from last year’s announcement," ACT Ice Sports Federation (ACTISF) president Tony Prescott said today. "The consultants will produce an options paper for a new twin-sheet ice sports facility, looking at key features such as land and design requirements, as well as financial and business operating models.

“The options paper consultants will utilise internationally recognised expertise including architects, project planners and quantity surveyors with experience in sport and recreation, social infrastructure and working in partnership with government and the community sector.

“The 2017 ACT government Budget specifically funded early planning on future locations for indoor sports facilities, demonstrating the value the government sees in an active, healthy community," Prescott said.

ACTISF believes the ACT’s unique setting as the nation's capital boasting a strong inventory of iconic sites and events, and its natural attraction as a gateway to Australia’s winter Olympic sports in the Snowy Mountains makes Canberra a natural home for a new, modern ice sports complex.

"We support a facility incorporating two (Olympic sized 60m x 30m) ice sheets, with the main rink having plexi-glass, warm-up areas and incorporating approximately 2000 permanent seats," Prescott said. "As we envisage it, the second rink would have limited seating, standing room, and netting.

"The national ice sports centre would be a facility able to host national championships and international tournaments --  a facility of which all Canberrans could be proud,” he added.

Australia's ice sports facilities in every state and territory range in size, design and capacity with many of the rinks utilising dated technology and offering only a restricted spectator experience.

"We are committed to working with the ACT government to ensure planning for a new national ice sports facility in Canberra takes into account not only modern design and technology, but also ensures business continuity planning for operating an affordable and effective twin sheet facility," Prescott said.

"Our intention is to leverage 0ff of the experiences and lessons learned from similar facilities nationally and internationally, to ensure Canberra reaps the benefits of a modern ice sports centre.

“We also want to set a new benchmark for ice sports facilities in Australia at a time when the various ice sports are experiencing unprecedented player and spectator growth nationally.

“We remain excited by Chief Minister Andrew Barr's commitment to work in partnership with us towards building an ice sports facility, here in Canberra, 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, and with the government’s commitment to develop the options paper, we remain on track,” he added.