Output 8.5 Venues
Overview
Territory Venues managed GIO Stadium Canberra, Exhibition Park in Canberra (EPIC), Manuka Oval and Stromlo Forest Park. Territory Venues promoted these as Canberra’s leading sporting, event and function venues.
Highlights
Against this output in 2015-16 the directorate:
- hosted 22 events, at GIO Stadium Canberra, attended by 243,089 people, which compares to 32 events (including the Asian Cup Football games) attended by 310,802 people in 2014-15, including:
- 12 Canberra Raiders and six Aquis Brumbies matches, with an average attendance of 11,652, an average increase per match of 2,119 over the corresponding period in 2014-15;
- the Socceroos comprehensive 3-0 win in their FIFA World Cup 2018 qualifier against Kyrgyzstan on 12 November 2015, in front of 19,412 fans;
- in conjunction with caterer, Gema Catering, decreased the cost of many popular food items by up to 28 per cent at GIO Stadium Canberra and introduced a greater variety of food options, including targeted healthier food options;
- undertook a range of works at GIO Stadium Canberra to upgrade the food concessions, construct a new outdoor bar and entertainment area, replace airconditioning units, add new lighting and signage and invested in an electronic payment system for food purchases;
- introduced a new branding overlay and tagline for the GIO Stadium Canberra ‘Show Your True Colours’; reflecting the passion of the fans for their club and their city;
- implemented, with Nutrition Australia, the ‘Eat Fit’ strategy at GIO Stadium, with an expansion of healthy food and drink options, including healthier meat pies and salads, and associated marketing with posters, signs and videos displayed at GIO Stadium;
- hosted 109 events at Exhibition Park in Canberra all having an attendance of more than 500, including:
- Summernats Street Machine Car Festival;
- Royal Canberra Show;
- National Folk Festival – 50th anniversary;
- Capital Region Farmers markets;
- Handmade markets;
- Craft & Quilt Fair;
- Spring Home and Leisure Show;
- Australian Fellowship of Evangelical Students National Conference;
- Eid al-Fitr Festival;
- Australian Defence Force Academy graduation dinner;
- Snowy Hydro Southcare gala dinner;
- A Pooch Affair; and
- Decommissioning of Defence Chinook.
- undertook a number of improvements at EPIC including:
- installation of CBR Wifi in the venue’s three major buildings;
- resurfacing of the parquetry floor in Coorong pavilion;
- improved external signage at the venue;
- installed new automatic doors in Budawang and Coorong pavilions;
- completed refurbishing toilets in the Terrace;
- introduction of BBQ facility and improvements at EPIC’s camping ground;
- completion of NBN rollout to the venue;
- electrical upgrades;
- improvements to stables; and
- improved patron seating and amenities;
- other highlights at EPIC included:
- increased camping bookings and revenue;
- ACTSmart accreditation re-endorsement; and
- progression of the low tourist accommodation development;
- hosted a number of events at Manuka Oval, including:
- the first match of the Australian Cricket season with the PM's XI match played in October against New Zealand with 7,346 patrons witnessing the first use of the ‘pink ball’ prior to the historic first day/night test in Adelaide;
- the One Day International Cricket Match between Australia and India with 11,084 spectators in attendance;
- the return of Women’s One Day International cricket, with over 2,000 spectators watching Australia beat India;
- four Giants matches in the 2015 and 2016 seasons, with games against Geelong Cats (2015), Western Bulldogs, Geelong Cats, and Port Adelaide, with an average attendance of 10,956;
- 28 local AFL matches, including the Canberra Demons in the North East Australian Football League and 15 local Cricket matches;
- undertook a number of improvements at Manuka Oval including:
- amenity and service upgrades to the Bradman Room;
- improvements to play facilities and change rooms;
- security improvements; and
- concession upgrades;
- released the final master plan for Stromlo Forest Park that will facilitate Stromlo Forest Park’s evolution into a vibrant, specialist centre for recreational and professional sports in Canberra, with cycling, equestrian, running and walking continuing to be key activities within the Park it is also becoming an integral recreation resource for the residents of Molonglo;
- continued work at Stromlo Forest Park to improve trails and other facilities for park users, including toilet and shower improvements and a new video screen for event promotion, sponsorship and park information;
- hosted 189 organised events at Stromlo Forest Park attracting around 29,000 competitors, including:
- the ACT Schools Mountain Bike Championships;
- Fitz’s Challenge and the National Capital Tour (road cycling);
- the Scott Australian 24hr Mountain Bike Race;
- the ACT Schools Cross-Country Championships;
- the Stromlo Running Festival; and
- the Rocky Trail Race Series;
- this represents a 38 per cent increase in the number of events over the previous year and highlights the growing use of the park by the local community;
- continued implementation of the Stromlo Forest Park Strategic Bushfire Management Plan to provide fire fuel reduction works within the park, particularly along its boundaries with residential development in Molonglo Valley and Weston Creek, with $1.65 million provided over three years to deliver these works, including further clearing of vegetation along Uriarra Road (adjacent to Denman Prospect), major clearing along the Cotter Road, west of the Mount Stromlo summit road and improvements to fire trails; and
- continued to provide and promote water refill stations at all venues.
The directorate exceeded five and did not meet two of seven targets against this output. Three of the exceeded targets, (a)(ii), (iii) and (iv) related to a higher than predicted number of major events at Manuka Oval, Stromlo Forest Park and Exhibition Park in Canberra. The other two targets that were exceeded (b)(ii) and (iii) related to higher than expected own source revenue at Manuka Oval and Exhibition Park in Canberra.
Of the targets not met, the target for (a)(i) Number of major events at GIO Stadium was one short, and for (b)(i) Own Source Revenue GIO Stadium, the minus ten per cent variance was due to a decrease in suite sales, memberships and sponsorships.
Future Direction
In 2016-17, the directorate will:
- continue to seek new events for the Territory’s venues to support economic growth and diversification, liveability and social inclusion;
- oversee the future development underway for Stromlo Forest Park, providing increased services for residents;
- continue to support health initiatives such as healthy food options, active recreation and leisure opportunities; and community events;
- continue to manage and deliver the scheduled program of events at our venues;
- implement capital upgrade works program at the venues;
- continue to provide a safe, clean and accessible environment at its venues; and
- continue to implement environmentally sustainable measures at its venues.
For further information contact:
Daniel Bailey
Executive Director
Sales, Marketing and Property Management
+61 2 6207 5618
Daniel.Bailey@act.gov.au
