Scroll below to compare the low-range and high-range stadium cost options Canberrans have been warned to expect a "premium economy" stadium after Chief Minister Andrew Barr pledged to cut high-end finishes and venue luxuries to bring project costs under $1 billion. Subscribe now for unlimited access . Login or signup to continue reading $ 0 / $ NaN /year All articles from our website & app The digital version of Today's Paper Breaking news alerts direct to your inbox Interactive Crosswords, Sudoku and Trivia All articles from the other regional websites in your area Continue Mr Barr moved to quell fears of a major budget blowout after a government-commissioned analysis revealed a new stadium at Bruce would cost between $1.
339 billion and $1.869 billion, while a Civic project would cost between $2.127 billion and $2.
890 billion . The government is confident it can shave almost $350 million off the overall costs of a new stadium at Bruce - its preferred option - to reduce its investment after 15 years of planning . The 20-page WT Partnerships report factored into its cost estimations a 30 per cent contingency and an escalation in labour and material costs - totalling $554.
5 million in the low-end option at Bruce. It also included design fees ranging from $57.5 million to $136 million.
Mr Barr, who has previously said the government would not pursue "the folly of a billion-dollar plus stadium", flagged the potential of cutting costs for the surrounding precinct and roadworks. "The government's approach from here will be to endeavour to work down the scope of the project to the point that it does come in below that billion-dollar mark," Barr said when peppered with questions in the Legislative Assembly on Wednesday. Asked in Legislative Assembly question time what elements he would cut to reduce the price tag, Barr said: "Certainly there will not be a retractable roof .
.. the seating would be undercover, but not the playing field.
"We would need to look at the fitout of the stadium. If I could use an airline analogy, it would be more in the economy or premium economy context rather than business or first class." Canberra Liberals leader Elizabeth Lee also questioned why Mr Barr included the Civic stadium costings in the scope of the report given he killed off hope of a venue in the city two years ago.
"The government commissioned work on a range of different options ...
[Ms Lee] has been asking for further information [on the costs of Civic] so the government has continued to seek information," Mr Barr said. WHAT'S IN THE COST ANALYSIS? The $30,000 "Canberra Stadium Masterplan" report was handed to the government in May, but only released this week after Sport Minister Yvette Berry used it to answer a question on notice about the costs of the stadium project. The covers the details of almost every aspect from planning to construction completion.
The design costs are a staggering $61 million for the preferred option at Bruce, or $136 million for the most expensive option in Civic. If the government presses ahead with the low-end option at Bruce, the escalation prediction is $355 million and the contingency is $204.5 million.
The cost of the actual stadium construction is expected to be $698 million when factoring in margins, precinct work, a carpark, roadwork and services upgrades. But the report said the stadium alone would be just $303 million for a new build on the 25 hectare plot of land in Bruce. ACT Greens leader and Attorney General Shane Rattenbury said he was shocked by the contents of the report and cast doubt over some of the estimations.
ACT Chief Minister Andrew Barr says he wants to keep stadium costs below $1 billion. Pictures by Graham Tidy, Keegan Carroll The Canberra Liberals are set to unveil their own stadium plan when the election campaign begins, while the Greens have no desire to build a new venue and have described the project as a "nice to have" rather than a required investment. "This was new information to me," Mr Rattenbury said on ABC radio.
"I think it's a really important document, though, and it's a very interesting document ...
There's a whole series of factors that have been put in there that I think warrants some further examination. "People will have different views on the credibility of different line items [in the report]. I think there's also a debate to be had about where does this sit in our infrastructure priorities .
.. the stadium sits in the nice-to-have category.
" The government commissioned the "option costing report" in September last year. The scope of the work included costing four scenarios based on "high-level design information" and estimations based on benchmarked rates from other stadium projects. All cost estimations included an allocation for a $91 million multi-level carpark, but the costs of a carpark ballooned to $200 million for the high-range Civic option.
Precinct work ranged from $7.5 million to $23 million, while roadworks were listed between $50 million to $250 million. "The cost advice is based on pricing as of May 2024 with suitable escalation provisions to 2030," the report said.
"We highlight that due to the preliminary nature of the documentation, our estimate should be viewed as indicative and a preliminary opinion of the probably order of cost based on a concept without definition of design scope or quality." Share Facebook Twitter Whatsapp Email Copy Chris Dutton Sport editor Chris Dutton has been a sport journalist since 2008, covering rugby union, rugby league, basketball, cricket and soccer. He has covered World Cups and Olympic Games in print and online.
Chris has had a stint as news director, but is back in sport to follow the ups and downs. Email: chris.dutton@canberratimes.
com.au Chris Dutton has been a sport journalist since 2008, covering rugby union, rugby league, basketball, cricket and soccer. He has covered World Cups and Olympic Games in print and online.
Chris has had a stint as news director, but is back in sport to follow the ups and downs. Email: chris.dutton@canberratimes.
com.au Jasper Lindell Assembly Reporter Jasper Lindell joined The Canberra Times in 2018. He is a Legislative Assembly reporter, covering ACT politics and government.
He also writes about development, transport, heritage, local history, literature and the arts, as well as contributing to the Times' Panorama magazine. He was previously a Sunday Canberra Times reporter. Jasper Lindell joined The Canberra Times in 2018.
He is a Legislative Assembly reporter, covering ACT politics and government. He also writes about development, transport, heritage, local history, literature and the arts, as well as contributing to the Times' Panorama magazine. He was previously a Sunday Canberra Times reporter.
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