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The NSW Government has today made a further announcement on the $17.7 million Canterbury Olympic Ice Rink upgrade and restoration works. The state government will work with not-for-profit The Ice-Skating Club of NSW to deliver the upgrades, with construction to commence in late-2024.

The Canterbury Ice Rink has served as the home for more than 20 Olympic ice skaters, including short track Olympic gold medallist, Steven Bradbury, 2014 Ice Dance Olympians Danielle O’Brien and Greg Merriman, and Australia’s first indigenous Winter Olympics athlete, Harley Windsor.

The first announcement on its restoration was made back in February 2023, by then NSW Treasurer Matt Kean who noted the Canterbury Olympic Ice Rink, a 52-year-old repurposed aircraft hangar, would receive an $18 million WestInvest grant to fund urgent repairs and save the rink, which has nurtured more than 20 Olympic skaters.

At the time former Treasurer Kean commented “It’s an absolute game changer, ensuring that it can now reopen. The facility is an institution not only in the Canterbury area, but right across NSW.”

Commenting on the NSW Government’s February announcement, one of the rink’s directors and Australian Olympic skater Danielle O’Brien, who has been at the forefront of the campaign to save it, said it was a relief for the community, which had campaigned for the past six months.

O’Brien shared “We have had some great responses, getting really great responses from government and the opposition, and knowing that there was an election coming up and, being included in the campaigns, it was great confirmation that the rink holds a place in the community.”

Today’s announcement by the NSW Government on executing the grant for $17.7 million will see the iconic Canterbury Olympic Ice Rink receive a major upgrade and restoration to ensure the training ground for many Australian Winter Olympians will remain for many decades to come.

Funded through the Western Sydney Infrastructure Grants Program, the Canterbury Olympic Ice Rink Roof and Amenities Upgrade Project will deliver:

• a new roof structure
• new change rooms
• a concrete new modern ice floor and barrier system
• new skate hire facilities
• upgraded spectator seating areas.

The upgrades that are being undertaken will ensure this Western Sydney institution is one of the best ice rinks in Australia anticipated to attract over 120,000 visitors per year.

Steve Kamper, NSW Minister for Sport enthused “We’re excited to restore this fantastic facility so it can serve as a rink for the Canterbury community for many years to come.

“This funding will get thousands of athletes performing incredible feats and scoring goals, while allowing patrons young and old a fantastic opportunity to learn to skate.

“This much-loved ice rink will allow The Ice-Skating Club of NSW to partner with state and national bodies in figure skating and ice hockey to host events at the state, national and international level.”

Sophie Cotsis, Local State Member for Canterbury added “The project will deliver huge benefits, including local jobs, programs for local school students, as well as an inclusive skating program for skaters with intellectual and physical disabilities.

“Since the closure of the facility, skaters from the area have been travelling hours across Sydney, even to Canberra of a weekend, to train. Come mid-2026 this will no longer be the case, with this wonderful facility back up-and-running in our own backyard.”

“This is huge win, a big congratulations to our community for this hard-fought achievement”.

Image. Credit: Danielle O’Brien

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