Labor axes Tuggeranong Ice Rink
After ten years of broken promises, the ACT Labor Government has finally admitted what Tuggeranong, and Canberra families already knew: it cannot deliver.
Labor first pledged a Tuggeranong ice sports facility before the 2016 election. A decade later there is no rink, no workable contract, and no facility.
Today the ACT Labor Government and its Treasurer walked away, claiming the project was not “value for money” after proponents sought more than double the original funding.
That is the inevitable result of a Government that cannot manage money, cannot manage projects, and cannot keep its word.
“Labor took this promise to three elections. They announced partners, they announced a site, they announced over $16 million, and they still delivered nothing,” Leader of the Canberra Liberals Mark Parton said.
“When a Government blows the budget year after year, community infrastructure is the first thing to go. Tuggeranong has paid the price for Labor’s inability to live within its means.”
Deputy Leader and Member for Brindabella Deborah Morris said the decision confirmed what locals have said for years.
“Labor’s decade of delay, disorder and deceit has exposed yet again what Tuggeranong residents have long feared: this Labor Government has never been serious about delivering for Tuggeranong. Tuggeranong residents just want a fair go, but they’ll never get it with Labor.”
Shadow Minister for Sport and Recreation James Milligan said Labor’s fallback was more waste.
“Redirecting the $16 million to a survey and other projects will be a duplication of the Government’s existing commitment to an independent sports audit, another waste of taxpayers’ money.”
“Ultimately the Government killed the Ice Sports Facility by selecting a site which was not commercially viable. The Government was given five separate site options by developers during the EOI process, but they instead chose to force Greenway.”
The Canberra Liberals will keep fighting for sporting infrastructure in Tuggeranong, and Canberra delivered on time, on budget, and without another decade of waste and mismanagement.