We'll start in first term: Liberals commit to convention centre on city pool site

The Canberra Liberals have committed to a building new convention centre on the Civic pool site, announcing a two-stage build at a cost of $760 million, with construction to start in the year three of its first term if elected on 19 October.

Chief Minister Andrew Barr announced in April that Labor would build a combined convention centre and entertainment pavilion on the Civic pool site, where he had once considered building a stadium, and he’ll ask the Commonwealth to go halves in the cost.

The Liberal proposal would also seek a 50:50 deal with the Commonwealth as well as being open to a partnership with the private sector but it would not include the entertainment pavilion.

Facilities planned include banqueting options for more than 600 people, an exhibition and meeting space that could be divided to allow multiple events to be staged simultaneously, and a theatre/auditorium.

The staged approach would mean building a 20,000 sqm facility first at a cost of $510 million, then increasing it to 30,000 sqm for an extra $250m. This would allow for a new convention centre to be up and running as quickly as possible before expanding to meet demand as Canberra grew.

Opposition Leader Elizabeth Lee said today that a Liberal Government would start preparation and design work immediately so the new convention centre could be opened within five years.

Ms Lee said the cost of the project would also be offset by the sale of the current convention centre site. Funding allocated to the entertainment pavilion would be redirected to the convention centre.

She said a building of this size could return up to $200 million in economic benefit to the ACT a year by increasing the size, flexibility, and number of events that the current convention centre was unable to accommodate.

ACT Labor said the Liberal proposal was an inferior cut and paste of Labor’s plan for a Convention and Entertainment Centre that included 7,500-8,000 seat entertainment centre to supports live music and major indoor sporting events.

But the Liberals have promised to build their centre first, with the timeline for the Labor proposal roughly the same as its proposed Bruce stadium, to be completed by 2033. Both projects are uncosted and will likely depend on Commonwealth funding support.

Ms Lee said Labor had been proposing a new convention centre in the city since 2008 but Canberrans now realised they had been taken for ride and that the Labor-Greens Government was never going to deliver it.

“It’s clear that only a Liberal Government will deliver this economic boosting infrastructure project that will really be a game changer for our city,” she said.

Mr Lee said there were important national benefits in having such a facility in Canberra and the Commonwealth should come to the party.

“Canberra is the seat of the Federal Government and also home to many national peak bodies and organisations,” she said.

“Imagine if Canberra was the kind of capital like every other capital round the world that’s able to host global and international events. Imagine if we were able to host something like CHOGM.

“When you look at the enormous benefits that come and flow to not just Canberra but Australia as a country, the Commonwealth would be very well poised to put in a huge investment into this type of project.”

Ms Lee said tourism leaders and convention experts had said that Canberra was missing out on $25m a year just in direct spending.

The Liberals also remain supportive of a city location for a new stadium, but no other site except the Civic pool land has been realistically canvassed.

Ms Lee said she would have more to say on a city stadium closer to the election.

She said a Liberal Government would continue current plans to replace the Civic pool with a new aquatic centre in Commonwealth Park.

Canberra’s business community has had a new convention centre on its shopping list for decades.

ACT Independent Senator David Pocock has proposed a shared convention centre and stadium in the city on the pool site.