The ACT Government is facing a political backlash after abandoning its decade-long plan for a Tuggeranong ice sports facility, with Labor, Liberal, Greens and independent MLAs weighing in on the decision.

Canberra Liberals leader Mark Parton said Labor had taken the project to three elections but failed to deliver despite announcing a site, private partners and more than $16 million in funding.

“Labor took this promise to three elections. They announced partners, they announced a site, they announced over $16 million, and they still delivered nothing,” Mr Parton said.

Labor Brindabella MLA Taimus Werner-Gibbings described the decision as a “betrayal”, saying Tuggeranong residents had a right to be angry after waiting 10 years.

The government announced today that the Tuggeranong Ice Sports Facility would not proceed after it and private partners failed to reach agreement on its cost and delivery.

It said an updated proposal sought more than twice the financial assistance requested originally and was assessed as presenting unacceptable risks and not representing value for money.

The $16.265 million committed by the government will instead be spent on other sport and recreation infrastructure in Tuggeranong, with local clubs being surveyed about their priorities.

Mr Werner-Gibbings welcomed the commitment to keep the money in Tuggeranong but called for a plan and timeline for its replacement projects. He blamed private partners Cruachan Investments and Pelligra Holdings for pursuing alternative locations rather than delivering the facility in Tuggeranong.

Canberra Liberals deputy leader Deborah Morris said the cancellation was another failure to deliver promised infrastructure, while shadow sport and recreation minister James Milligan blamed the government’s choice of the Greenway site and questioned whether its new sporting infrastructure survey duplicated a promised sports audit.

Greens Brindabella MLA Laura Nuttall also called the cancellation a “huge blow” and is seeking a briefing from Sport and Recreation Minister Chris Steel on the government’s cost-benefit analysis and what will now be provided for ice sports and Tuggeranong.

Independent Murrumbidgee MLA Fiona Carrick turned attention to the existing Phillip Ice Rink, calling on site owner Geocon to outline how it would improve the ageing facility now the Tuggeranong project had been abandoned.

The Phillip site’s Crown lease requires an ice rink suitable for national competitions to remain until a new facility opens.

Mr Steel said the government would continue working with the ice sports community on future options and that all $16.265 million would remain in Tuggeranong for other sporting infrastructure.

News all day, every day at CityNewsQBN.com.au.