Deliver an Ice Sports Venue in Tuggeranong

The following residents of the ACT draw the attention of the Assembly to the urgent need for progress on the Canberra Arena project in Greenway, Tuggeranong, first raised by the ACT Ice Sports Federation with the then-ACT Government in 2015: 

• Canberra currently lacks sufficient ice sports infrastructure. The existing facility in Phillip is outdated, unable to meet demand, and nearing the end of its operational life. 

• Tuggeranong deserves a world-class venue for ice sports (including dedicated curling ice pads and rock climbing). 

• Delays to the project, extending well beyond initial expectations, have been deeply disappointing for Canberra’s ice sports community and Tuggeranong’s residents. 

• The ACT Government has committed $16.2 million towards the facility – when committed and announced, the largest investment by any state or federal government in Australia for a facility of this kind. 

• This venue will bring the interest and investment that Tuggeranong needs and deserves, like job creation, increased visitation, and new opportunities for local businesses. 

• Recent media reports suggest private partners may be shifting focus to other ice sports projects, while progress in Tuggeranong remains stalled. This raises serious concerns about their commitment to the Canberra Arena, to growing ice sports participation at a community level, and the future of the Tuggeranong site. 

• The Assembly resolved on 26 June 2025 to provide quarterly progress reports on the development of an ice sports facility in Tuggeranong.

Your petitioners, therefore, request the Assembly to call on the ACT Government and its private development partners, Cruachan Investments and Pelligra Holdings, to: 

1. Deliver their commitment to build a state-of-the-art ice sports venue, including two Olympic-sized ice rinks, curling lanes, and a rock-climbing centre,

 2. Reconfirm Tuggeranong as the location for this landmark project and publicly support the long-term benefits it will bring to the region, 

3. Conduct contract negotiations and development decisions transparently, prioritising the interests of the Tuggeranong and Canberra ice sports communities, 

4. Work collaboratively to remove unnecessary red tape and ensure that no further delays hinder the progress of this vital community infrastructure, and 5. Provide regular public updates on milestones, timelines, and any changes to delivery, in line with the Assembly’s resolution for quarterly reporting.