Chief Minister Andrew Barr has declared the city stadium dream can be put to bed, moving ahead with plans to build at Bruce despite elected independent Tom Emerson declaring "it doesn't make a whole lot of sense".
Barr has killed off the prospect of a new stadium being built in the city after a territory election win which sets Labor up for more than a quarter century of government.
Barr's vision is for a new stadium in Bruce to be complete by the early 2030s, with a stadium costing report earlier this year stating a new stadium in Bruce would cost $1.9 billion as opposed to the $2.9 billion price tag place on a new stadium in Civic.
The stadium has been a divisive topic in the capital and Canberra Liberals had unveiled grand plans to build a 30,000-seat venue at Acton Waterfront, but that site is likely to be consumed by luxury apartments with the Liberals on course to reach almost three decades as the opposition.
The Greens say the existing stadium can be brought up to a modern standard for "a couple of hundred million", but Barr is committed to a new venue in Bruce which could finally end a 15-year saga.
"We have an alternate view on Acton Waterfront, and that's consistent with the National Capital Plan," Barr said.
"The Greens and Labor were both of the view that Bruce is a better option, so I think we can put that one to bed now."
But the prospect of rebuilding near the current site has its detractors, with Independents for Canberra leader Emerson suggesting a new venue in Bruce will not satisfy fans complaining about the ghost town surrounding the existing stadium.
Emerson says a new venue at Bruce would fail to capitalise on an already existing precinct in the city boasting bars, restaurants and a shopping centre.
"To me, it doesn't make a whole lot of sense to rebuild it in a place, out in Bruce, that doesn't get much traction as is," Emerson said.
"How do we get casual fans to the game? How do we make an event out of it? To me, a city location makes sense. What I hear above all is people are sick of having spent 15 years talking about this project and not actually delivering it.
"There are too many projects in that category. As independent crossbenchers, that's what we can do, talk about these things, apply pressure, and ensure we're not just waiting another four years for more promises to be made, that these promises actually get delivered within the next term."
