ACT Greens Brindabella MLA Laura Nuttall has accused the government of shutting most Tuggeranong residents out of consultation on how $16.265 million originally set aside for the abandoned ice sports facility should now be spent.

Ms Nuttall said the government had already failed the community by scrapping the rink and was now restricting consultation on replacement sport and recreation projects.

The government’s own survey material says Stage 1 is open only to ACT-affiliated clubs and organisations, district community councils and licensed clubs, while Stage 2 is limited to ACT sport and recreation peak bodies.

“Tuggeranong has been failed again. First, the community was shut out of a major decision about its future. Now, instead of genuine consultation, the Government’s even limiting who gets a say on how to spend the leftovers,” Ms Nuttall said.

The 2026 Sport and Active Recreation Infrastructure Survey is being used to renew a proposal register first created after a 2023 survey. Organisations must resubmit projects rather than having their previous proposals carried over automatically.

Eligible clubs and affiliated organisations can submit up to 15 priority projects, with peak bodies expected to later review and prioritise submissions from their affiliates.

The government says inclusion in the proposal register does not guarantee funding or delivery, and that the information will also be provided to a consultant preparing an independent report on ACT sport infrastructure needs.

Ms Nuttall said the broader Tuggeranong community should have a direct say on how the redirected funding is used, arguing the original ice rink was intended for general public use as well as organised sport.

She called for a wider community-led process covering the town centre, sporting infrastructure and future services rather than consultation limited mainly to organised groups.

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