ACT Chief Minister Andrew Barr has publicly stated Canberra Stadium has "more than a decade" of life left, but a confidential government report obtained by The Canberra Times lists its use-by date as 2027. The revelation comes as the cost of maintaining the ageing venue is projected to blow out significantly.
Conflicting Timelines and Soaring Costs
The Venues Canberra Asset Management Strategy 2022-25, dated 2022, clearly states the 48-year-old stadium at Bruce would need to be "replaced or completely rebuilt by around 2027". This directly contradicts Mr Barr's July statement that the facility had life until at least 2035.
The government insists recent upgrades have extended the stadium's lifespan beyond 2027. However, the financial burden of keeping it operational is mounting. A 2020 Facility Condition and Lifecycle Forecast Report outlined a $9.2 million maintenance plan for 2021-30, a figure that did not account for inflation.
With only $984,500 of that work completed by August 2025, and about $8.2 million of recommended work still needed in the next five years, the final bill is expected to be nearly double the original forecast.
Behind Schedule on Critical Works
Documents show the government is behind schedule on essential upkeep. By the end of 2025, $4.5 million in maintenance should have been completed, but current figures indicate a shortfall of approximately $3.6 million.
An ACT government spokesperson defended the track record, stating, "Since 2021, almost $8 million in upgrades, repairs and maintenance has been spent on GIO Stadium." They attributed variations between planned and actual spending to updated engineering advice and reprioritisation, emphasising that high-priority safety works, like asbestos management, are being delivered.
The $73 Million Facelift That Wouldn't Extend Life
The 2022 report presented a stark assessment: bringing Canberra Stadium to modest modern standards would cost nearly $73 million, a figure that would be substantially higher today due to construction cost inflation. Crucially, the report concluded that such an expensive upgrade would not extend the stadium's useful economic life.
The report cited the ageing concrete superstructure as a key concern, noting the 45-year-old venue was "structurally showing signs of ageing".
Seventh Stadium Study Underway
Amid this backdrop, Mr Barr is awaiting the findings of a seventh major study into a potential new stadium—a $929,000 technical due diligence and site analysis of the Bruce precinct. He confirmed the government is only considering sites within the Bruce precinct, including land on the current CIT campus, car parks, and the stadium's existing location.
The news broke on the same day the Tasmanian government approved its controversial $1.13 billion stadium in Hobart, highlighting the ongoing national debate about sporting infrastructure investment.
Independent MLA Thomas Emerson has been actively questioning the government's plans and expenditure, seeking clarity on the future of the capital's premier rectangular sports ground.
