THE Western Sydney Giants have announced details of a submission to the ACT Government for an $800 million upgrade of Manuka Oval and the surrounding area.

Giants Chair Tony Shepherd said the ‘Manuka Green’ proposal would see an upgraded Manuka Oval become an international-standard sporting facility, together with a world-class mixed-use precinct linking Manuka Oval to the Manuka business district and Kingston Foreshore.

“For over 100 years, Manuka Oval has been a proud home for cricket and Australian Football in Canberra,” Tony said.

“But the oval’s potential is limited by not meeting standards for international cricket or AFL.

“The proposed upgrades will mean that Canberra can attract more elite sporting events. They will also significantly improve the player and visitor experience.

“Manuka Green invokes a world class design for one of Canberra’s most valuable community assets – a design that better links Manuka Oval with Telopea Park and the Manuka shopping village.

“Our vision is for a beautiful new part of Canberra that is based on wonderful design, sustainability and public art which people will love to come to, whether to attend a sporting event, to work, to live or to visit and enjoy.”

The GIANTS have partnered with Grocon to deliver this project.

The proposal includes:

• 4750 new permanent seats to replace poor quality temporary seating and standing areas
• New roofing covering 80 per cent of seating
• A multi-million dollar landscape upgrade including a new running track linking Manuka Oval to Telopea Park and the Kingston Foreshore
• New hospitality, media and change room facilities
• A mixed-use development in the Manuka precinct that includes a boutique – 4-star hotel and serviced apartments, residential, commercial and retail and a licenced club. Overall the proposal includes approximately 140,000 square metres of Gross Floor Area (GFA)
• Up to 450 additional car parking spaces
• Preservation of heritage assets on the existing Manuka Oval precinct

“Canberra is part of the Giants’ DNA and this proposal further cements our commitment to the Canberra community and indeed our long-term future in the ACT,” Tony said.

“Importantly, this proposal strives to generate substantial long-term economic benefits for the ACT, sees the oval remain in community ownership and the development will come at no cost to the ACT taxpayer.

“This proposal understands the need to enhance the local environment for residents and traders. It is also committed to preserving the heritage assets on the current Manuka Oval site – these are important assets that remain key features of the Manuka community.

“The Giants are seeking feedback from the local community and other key stakeholders about this proposal. There will be a number of opportunities for the community to engage in the ongoing development of this proposal in the coming weeks, in addition to the online public feedback forum. Details of these opportunities will be announced in the coming days.

“Further to this process, the Giants will also hold a design competition, if the ACT Government proceeds with the proposal, with a design brief that is informed by the community’s ideas.

“No one knows Canberra better than Canberrans which is why we will be collaborating on this project with the community in a meaningful, accountable and responsive way.

“We want to establish Manuka Oval as a broad-based sporting venue that represents a truly outstanding asset for Canberra and the only way we can do that is by sharing ideas and further developing a clear understanding of each other’s priorities, needs and expectations.

“With this in mind, a design competition is a transparent and equitable way of ensuring the entire community has the opportunity to directly contribute to the upgrade of a very important community asset.”

For more information about the proposal, go to manukagreen.com.au or contact James Avery at james.avery@gwsgiants.com.au or 0447 437 037.

UPDATE: The Liberals have expressed considerable enthusiasm for the project:

The Canberra Liberals welcome the GWS proposal for significant and creative investment in the Manuka Oval precinct, Leader of the Opposition Jeremy Hanson said today.

“We look forward to the community discussion surrounding this proposal and welcome the consideration of Manuka Oval for significant private sector investment,” Mr Hanson said.

“The private sector is often best placed for this sort of development with the government taking an oversight and supporting role.

“This sort of proposal has the potential to create many jobs during construction and I look forward to further discussions with the community and proponents,” Mr Hanson concluded.

UPDATE: The hoteliers are extremely enthusiastic:

A multi-million dollar development to revitalise Manuka Oval and the surrounding entertainment precincts will provide a much-needed boost for Canberra’s hospitality and tourism, the Australian Hotels Association (AHA) ACT said today.

The new plan proposes an $800 million redevelopment of Manuka Oval to provide new hospitality, media and change-room facilities. This would also help to boost the Manuka and the Kingston Foreshore entertainment precincts.

AHA ACT acting General Manager Mark Sproat said Manuka Oval and the surrounding precinct was in urgent need of an upgrade and the hotel and hospitality sector welcomed this new development.

“Manuka has been falling behind other entertainment precincts across the city – and this major redevelopment project would help to kickstart this important hospitality and tourism hub for Canberra,” Mr Sproat said.

“The licensed hospitality sector also applauds the idea of having a mixed-use precinct linking Manuka Oval to the Manuka business district and Kingston Foreshore through a multi-million dollar landscape upgrade.

“We urge the ACT Government to strongly consider the new project for the long-term success, profitability and sustainability of Canberra’s important licensed hospitality and tourism sector.”

Mr Sproat said the hospitality and tourism sector supported moves to modernise and improve Manuka Oval, especially to attract more AFL and cricket matches, which benefitted local tourism.

“Hotels rely on major events to help boost room nights across the city – so having more sporting events would provide much-needed leisure visitation to the national capital, especially during quiet times of the year,” Mr Sproat said.

“We’ve already seen the success across the industry from having lights installed at Manuka Oval, which has helped to boost leisure visitation and hotel occupancy rates Canberra wide.”

Mr Sproat said the ACT’s accommodation and tourism sector looked forward to working with local stakeholders to ensure the Manuka entertainment precinct kept pace with other parts of the city.