Ice rink tender to go out in coming weeks says government

May 20, 2019

CANBERRA. -- The push for a new ice rink in the capital will soon get its skates on when the ACT Government asks for expressions of interest (EOI) in developing what would be a multi-million dollar facility, reports The Riot Act .

A government spokesperson said the EOI documentation was being developed and would be publicly advertised in the coming weeks. Sports Minister Yvette Berry had said a tender would go out early this year.

The tender would seek interest from suitably qualified and experienced parties to design, construct, operate and maintain a new ice sports facility in the ACT.

The ACT Ice Sports Federation – representing figure skating, ice hockey, including the Canberra Brave, and broomball – has been driving the bid for a two-sheet replacement for the current 38-year-old Phillip rink, which it argues isn’t big enough for world-class competition and the growing fan base.

Chief Minister Andrew Barr promised in 2016 to start building a new ice rink before the 2020 election and an undisclosed amount of money was allocated in the mid-year budget review in February 2019 to support the bid, although the government has made it clear the private sector will have to stump up most of the money.

The spokesperson said the tender would specify that the government will consider providing some financial and/or non-financial contributions to support the establishment of the facility, but the Territory did not intend to directly own or be the primary funding source for a new ice sports facility.