'Ice sports capital of Australia': Libs take aim at stalled Tuggeranong project -- Canberra Times

26 June 2025

Canberra Times journalists Melanie Dinjaski and Chris Dutton in Locker Room, report.

The Canberra Liberals have called for transparency and action on the future of an ice-sports facility in Tuggeranong as concerns about the project continue to grow. It is hoped the ACT government and construction partners Cruachan Investments and Pelligra Holdings will finally have a contract agreed to and signed next month in the hope of opening in 2027. But Stephen Campbell - managing director of Cruachan Investments has raised concerns with the allocated site at Tuggeranong and rising building costs. The government has already committed $16.2 million to the project and set aside land for the twin-sheet facility. The delays prompted ACT Chief Minister Andrew Barr to tell the developers to "get on with it" nine years after the rink was proposed during the 2016 election campaign. The Liberals have added their voice to the debate - calling for the government to finalise the contract by July, release a land valuation for the site on Rowland Crescent in Greenway and provide quarterly updates on the progress.

Opposition sport spokesperson James Milligan - who was admitted to hospital on the weekend after a minor heart attack - and Deborah Morris joined forces to call for ice skating action.

"For nearly 10 years Andrew Barr has promised to build an ice rink in Tuggeranong, but construction hasn't even started," Milligan said. "This facility would be a key piece of sporting infrastructure that would encourage participation, accessibility and develop a professional pathway for ice sports in the ACT. The ACT should be the ice sports capital of Australia, and the community are keen to make that happen, but they have once again been let down by this government."

Morris raised the issue in the Legislative Assembly and questioned Sport Minister Yvette Berry about the status of the contract to build the ice rink. "Could you confirm what other documents or matters the government is responsible for, and when these will be complete," Morris asked Berry this week.

Berry replied: "Once the contract negotiations begin, it will be very much at arm's length from me. There will be very little that I will be able to communicate outside of the negotiations that will be continuing ... I am not sure what else we can do except to continue on the path that we have been on. We have promised the Tuggeranong community that they would get a twin-sheet facility.

"A commitment was made through the proponents to develop the twin-sheet ice facility. We have been working with them to try to get them moving on the project. I cannot force them to go any faster than they are."

Campbell - who is also in charge of the Canberra Brave ice hockey team - has flagged Majura as an alternative location. But that won't be happening - the government is committed to building the venue in Tuggeranong.