The ACT government "could consider scrapping plans" for a new A$350M ($275M) stadium in Canberra to "instead build a smaller multi-purpose indoor arena on the site of the Civic Pool," according to Chris Dutton of the CANBERRA TIMES. ACT Chief Minister Andrew Barr "flagged a radical change to the government's City to the Lake vision" on Thursday at a Legislative Assembly inquiry into the proposal of a new convention center. The government is keen to strike a deal with the Australian Sports Commission to buy Canberra Stadium and "give it options to transform the city's sport and cultural landscape." It is "another twist" to the government's plans to build a "state of the art 30,000-seat stadium with a roof" on the edge of Lake Burley Griffin to host Super Rugby side ACT Brumbies, National Rugby League side Canberra Raiders and professional football. Barr revealed the options "now include redeveloping Canberra Stadium on its existing Bruce site" and cutting costs by building a 7,000-seat arena in Civic for indoor sports, concerts, conferences and exhibitions. Barr "also floated the prospect of building an indoor-outdoor stadium on the Civic Pool site," which could be sectioned off to have arena facilities for small events "as well as the scope" to host rugby league, rugby union or football (CANBERRA TIMES, 9/28).
