ACT government releases Bruce stadium redevelopment masterplan

The ACT government has released a masterplan for the transformation of the Bruce sports precinct into a dual-venue facility, proposing a new 30,000-seat rectangular stadium for rugby union, rugby league, and football alongside the existing GIO Stadium oval, with shared parking, hospitality, and public domain infrastructure connecting the two venues.

The rectangular stadium has been a long-standing priority of Canberra's rugby league community, with the NRL Canberra Raiders having repeatedly identified their inability to host finals matches at GIO Stadium — configured for AFL — as a competitive disadvantage. The ACT government confirmed it had held preliminary discussions with the NRL and Football Australia about fixture commitments that would underwrite the business case for the new facility.

Chief Minister Andrew Barr said the dual-stadium configuration would position Canberra as a major events centre capable of hosting international rugby union test matches, NRL finals, and A-League grand finals. "We want Canberra on the international sports event calendar, and that requires world-class infrastructure," he said.

The masterplan also proposes a new mixed-use development on the northern edge of the precinct, incorporating hotels, restaurants, and retail that would activate the area on non-event days. Transport modelling identified a new bus rapid transit connection to Belconnen Town Centre as the critical enabling infrastructure for the precinct's expanded capacity.

Community consultation on the masterplan is open until the end of the month, with a final decision on the project's funding and delivery model expected early next year.

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