New convention centre, stadium upgrade, hop-on hop-off bus recommended as ways to improve Canberra's standing on the world stage
Federal MP Alicia Payne said it was “past time” the Sydney-Canberra commuter train was improved. (ABC News)
A new convention centre, stadium upgrade, and a hop-on-hop-off bus have been put forward by a federal inquiry as ways to improve the Australian national capital’s standing on the world stage.
The Joint Standing Committee on the National Capital and External Territories looked into ways to foster and promote the significance of Canberra.
After reviewing 48 submissions and holding nine public hearings, the committee put forward 21 recommendations as a “blueprint” for the federal government.
Of those suggestions, committee chair and member for Canberra Alicia Payne said a new federally-funded national convention centre was high on the list.
“I think it’s embarrassing that our city can’t host international conferences in our nation’s capital,” she said.
“To invest in that would truly be a nation building project.
“It is important as we aim to reset our position on the world stage and build those ties as a government, I feel this would be a really important step in that direction.”
Ms Payne said the federal government should also prioritise improving passenger train services between Sydney and Canberra.
“It’s past time that we addressed it,” Ms Payne said.
“It takes longer to get the train then to drive at the moment.
“If we want to make it a viable alternative to flying, and if we really want to make it as easy as possible for people to travel between those two cities, there’s a lot we need to do there.”
Stadium, AIS and Stage 88 make the list for needing upgrades
The federal government should work with the ACT government to upgrade Canberra’s stadium infrastructure, Ms Payne said, to ensure facilities support international and national sporting events, including greater spectator comfort and capacity.
Similarly, the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) was mentioned as in need of Commonwealth investment “to ensure it remains a world class institution”, particularly in the lead up to the 2032 Brisbane Olympic and Paralympic games.
Earlier this year the federal government committed to keeping the AIS in Canberra following a review, but there has not yet been any funding announcement.
The committee also recommended the federal government assist the ACT with the redevelopment of the Canberra Theatre Centre, and that the National Capital Authority upgrade Stage 88 so it’s able to host a broader range of events and performances.
Hop-on hop-off bus to make attractions more accessible
Ms Payne said suggestions had also been made for how to highlight and support the work of the national institutions, including core funding to make their collections more accessible in regional and rural areas.
Getting to and from the institutions could also be made easier with a hop-on hop-off shuttle bus, she said.
“When you visit many of the best cities around the world, they have a hop-on hop-off bus where you can get on and see all of the attractions, and know where they are and get a sense of the city,” Ms Payne said.
“We don’t have that here in Canberra.”
Ms Payne said a trial of a similar bus run by some of the national institutions had shown the concept to be effective.
There is also currently a privately-run hop-on hop-off sightseeing bus that does a loop of major attractions.
“I think this would mean a lot to tourists and locals alike in our city and make it more accessible to see all the wonderful things we have to offer from the national institutions to some of the other main attractions around the city as well,” she said.
Ms Payne said she hoped to see some funding for some of the recommendations included in the upcoming federal budget.
“Our city belongs to all Australians and it’s important that as a Commonwealth government we build on that significance and support our city,” she said.
David Pocock says Canberra not receiving enough funding
ACT independent senator David Pocock also served on the committee and said there was a “significant and widespread need” for federal government investment in Canberra.
“Canberra remains the least-known capital city in the developed world and we receive a disproportionately low amount of federal government investment,” he said.
“We were the only state or territory not to get a city deal under the last government, despite some jurisdictions getting two or more, meaning we missed out on a slice of almost $10 billion in federal funding under the previous government.
“This deficit still hasn’t been rectified and seems to be part of a broader pattern of the ACT missing out.”
Senator Pocock made a further nine recommendations, saying that many of the committee’s 21 suggestions were “too broad to be practically useful” and “too influenced by the submissions of one or two stakeholders”.
He said “more ambition” and “a sharper focus” was needed, including specific detail for a new national convention centre and the need for a new stadium rather than an upgrade.
He said the report’s finding that any new stadium would need to be built in Bruce was not supported by the evidence presented to the committee, and that a new stadium should be built alongside a new convention centre in Civic.
He also recommended investing in a new Civic pool, improving the water quality that flows into Lake Burley Griffin and removing the efficiency dividend for all national cultural institutions.
He also criticised the ACT government for not “taking full advantage” of the inquiry to highlight “decades of underinvestment” in the capital.
“There is a really concerning story we are seeing emerge across a whole range of areas — from specialist disability accommodation to swimming pools — where the ACT government isn’t putting in bids for buckets of Commonwealth funding,” he said.
“With such a small revenue base, we need the ACT government to pursue every Commonwealth dollar that we might be eligible to receive and strongly make the case for increased investment.”