'We will reduce cost': No-frills stadium can still be built at Bruce, says Barr

Chief Minister Andrew Barr says a new 30,000-seat stadium at Bruce can still be built, but the project would have to be strictly managed and be a no-frills affair.

Mr Barr was responding to questions about the WT Partnership report providing cost estimates for options at Bruce and a facility on the Civic pool site, which the government has already ruled out as too complex and costly.

The study found a major refurbishment of more than half of Canberra Stadium, including a multi-storey carpark, would be between $1.163 billion and $1.194 billion, a knockdown rebuild with accompanying infrastructure would be between $1.526 billion and $2.056 billion, and a new build with accompanying infrastructure elsewhere in Bruce would be between $1.339 billion and $1.869 billion.

This compared with between $2.128 billion and $2.9 billion for the Civic pool site, including minimal surrounding stadium infrastructure.

The main stadium users, the Canberra Raiders and the Brumbies, have always supported a move into town, arguing that a central location would benefit fans and the city economy.

The startling numbers were attacked by the Canberra Liberals and Senator David Pocock as inflated and politically motivated, but Mr Barr said the report was independent advice that took into account a 30 per cent contingency and other elements.

He said these would be reduced significantly in the final build cost for the project, and financial support from the Commonwealth would also be an important consideration, in line with the contributions it had made to other stadium builds.

Attracting non-government support was also on the table.

“Part of standard due diligence for projects such as this is to order high-level cost estimates to examine options available and to guide decision making,” Mr Barr said.

The cost estimate did not mean a stadium was beyond the ACT’s financial capability or that sticking with the current stadium was still an option.

“We recognise the need for a new stadium,” he said. “We will do the work to reduce the cost of the project.

“Design and scope will need to be strictly managed. We have already publicly ruled out the high-cost options like locating in Civic, retractable roofs and expensive fit-outs and finishes.”

Mr Barr said the report highlighted the issues with a major refurbishment of the existing 50-year-old stadium and pointed out it would still require significant investment.

He said the city site imposed extra costs on a stadium project there, such as moving Parkes Way.

These included the relocation of existing underground utilities (water/stormwater/sewer) and upgrading major services to the site (high voltage power, stormwater) due to limitations in city infrastructure for a development of this size.

Parkes Way would have to be relocated, and work would be needed on access roads immediately adjacent to the site, such as Allara Street, Constitution Avenue and Coranderrk Street.

Mr Barr criticised the Liberals for baulking at the report’s estimates and continuing to back a city stadium development.

“Given the Liberals’ rhetorical concern about debt and deficit, it would be a highly questionable decision to direct so much of the ACT’s infrastructure investment into a city stadium,” he said.

“It would have to come at the cost of other important infrastructure investments in health, education, public transport and housing.”

The government is already investigating a preferred site in Bruce on the corner of Haydon Drive and Battye Street, the former Raiders HQ, as part of a wider sports, education and health precinct.

Mr Barr said technical due diligence and site analysis was expected to be completed in early 2025.

“They do confirm that the strict management of design and scope creep is essential and that lower cost pathway is the only way forward,” he said.

“We are pursuing the realistic option. We have ruled out design and location options that drive the cost up significantly. Further work will be necessary to manage the project cost-wise and attract Commonwealth and non-government investment.”

Brumbies General Manager – Business Operations Gavin Hunt said the new cost estimates were alarming but this was because previous conversations had never included all the contingency costs and a 30 per cent margin, and things such as as roadworks around a stadium and the construction of new car parks.

“They’ve never been part of the conversation around the cost of building a stadium,” he said. “It’s not an apples on apples comparison.”

Mr Hunt said these things either need to be part of the conversation at all times or not all, not just some times.

He was concerned that people could be unnecessarily scared off the idea of a new stadium and called for consistency in reporting of the numbers.

“From the numbers we’ve seen, the stadium costs are very similar to what were discussed previously by the government,” he said.

Mr Hunt said the Brumbies wanted to see a firm commitment from the government including a timeline with commencement and completion dates.

On site preference, Mr Hunt said that at this point the Brumbies just wanted a development.

“We’d all love a perfect location but if a perfect location isn’t available to us, a location would be better than none,” he said.

“We just can’t continue to operate out of GIO Stadium.”

Mr Hunt said the club had not yet talked to the Canberra Liberals about the situation but there could be discussions in coming weeks.