https://www.canberratimes.com.au/st...rch-for-new-canberra-sports-stadium/?cs=14264
"The long-awaited new Canberra sports stadium could be built at Exhibition Park - rather than in the city - under the ACT government's new $14 billion infrastructure strategy.
Chief Minister Andrew Barr has also revealed the government has been approached by superannuation funds interested in potentially investing in a stadium project.
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According to the new infrastructure plan, the Canberra Stadium rebuild and Civic pool options are still on the table, but they are now being examined alongside a sporting venue at the home of Summernats and the Royal Canberra Show.
The plan estimates the cost of a new stadium at between $250 million and $500 million regardless of location.
In an interview with
The Canberra Times, Mr Barr said the Exhibition Park option had only emerged during planning for the new infrastructure strategy.
Mr Barr said the Flemington Road precinct - which includes 77 hectares of outdoor space - had a range of features which made it an attractive location for a new stadium.
"You have no shortage of [government-owned] land, you have a public transport connection with light rail running past it now, and it's geographic location is not too bad in terms of access points on major highways," Mr Barr said.
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But there were a number of logistical challenges which the ACT government would have to overcome.
The existing site is too small, meaning the government would need to secure Commonwealth support for a realignment of Parkes Way to free up more space.
The "physical constraints" of the Civic pool site also has implications for the type of playing surface used in the stadium.
Unlike at EPIC or in Bruce, a stadium on the Civic Pool site would have to run on an east-west orientation, which is not ideal for growing and maintaining natural grass.
Mr Barr said if natural grass was used, it would "cook" inside an indoor stadium during summer.
An artificial surface could be used as an alternative, but Mr Barr said it was unlikely that the NRL or Super Rugby would allow matches to be played on it.
"And you would not build something that they would not play on, so that's one of the other challenges that we need to contemplate," he said.
....
But there were a number of logistical challenges which the ACT government would have to overcome.
The existing site is too small, meaning the government would need to secure Commonwealth support for a realignment of Parkes Way to free up more space.
The "physical constraints" of the Civic pool site also has implications for the type of playing surface used in the stadium.
Unlike at EPIC or in Bruce, a stadium on the Civic Pool site would have to run on an east-west orientation, which is not ideal for growing and maintaining natural grass.
Mr Barr said if natural grass was used, it would "cook" inside an indoor stadium during summer.
An artificial surface could be used as an alternative, but Mr Barr said it was unlikely that the NRL or Super Rugby would allow matches to be played on it.
"And you would not build something that they would not play on, so that's one of the other challenges that we need to contemplate," he said.
