Tasmania’s new AFL stadium is going ahead with the first tenders for work on the Macquarie Point site now released.
The Tasmanian government says tenders for bulk excavations and to pack down The Goods Shed have now been released.
The expression of interest process for lead builder will open in January.
The new $1.13 billion stadium has been at the heart of a three-year public row over its location, cost and suitability; it is also tied directly to a Tasmanian team joining the AFL competition.
The last obstacle to its construction was removed when the upper house of state parliament voted in favour of it.
State premier Jeremy Rockliff says they are keen to move on and “turn this wasteland into a hive of economic activity” in reference to the site.
“From our events sector to business conferences and professional sport, the Mac Point stadium will be a game-changer for our state,” he claims.
“Now, it is time to get this done. It’s time to come together and make sure this stadium is the very best it can be.”
The 24,500-seat sports stadium will be able to seat extra (31,500) for major concerts with a 1500-person function room. It will also be covered.
The site is located on Hobart’s waterfront, adjacent to a naval base and historic cenotaph.
Minister for Macquarie Point Urban Renewal Eric Abetz promoted the benefits that government says the project will bring.
“We have seen the benefits of major infrastructure projects like Bridgewater Bridge, new Brighton High School, redeveloped Penguin District School and the new Legana Primary School,” he says.
“This is what Mac Point will be for our state – it will deliver 1500 jobs during construction and 200 ongoing, it will … support the one-in-six Tasmanians employed in the tourism and hospitality industry.”
TASMANIA DEVILS STARTS DOUBTS
The Tasmania Devils will be the new AFL team: chief executive Brendon Gale welcomes the upper house’s decision.
“It’s an incredible result. There has been uncertainty. We’ve had to keep our eye on the ball,” he told the AFL’s website AFL.com.au.
“This is 35, perhaps 40 years in the making. For years we have been discounted, denied, rejected, (told) that we’re not good enough … lack leadership but we’ve got our moment, we’ve won the day.”
The Devils will enter the AFL men’s and women’s competitions in 2028 but expects the stadium will not be ready in time even for the 2029 season.
Gale indicated the club’s inaugural season will be played at Hobart’s Bellerive Oval and Launceston’s UTAS Stadium.
“There is probably an assumption internally that we’ll be playing games in Hobart and Launceston for two years,” he said.
“That is probably a fair assumption at this stage.”
MASTER BUILDERS TASMANIA
Master Builders Tasmania CEO Jenna Cairney claims the upper house’s vote in support of the Macquarie Point Stadium is a vote of confidence in the state’s building and construction industry.
“There’s an unreal sense of elation and optimism out there; most importantly there is an overwhelming swell of pride and confidence that’s been missing for too long,” she says.
“This has always been about more than just timber, bricks and mortar.
“The stadium alone is estimated to create 600 building jobs, with a peak workforce of 450 on site; one in five of those could be apprentices.”
SPORTING AND OTHER EVENTS
Even before the project was approved, the government had signed a deal with Cricket Tasmania to make the new stadium the sport’s new home.
“This second heads of agreement will see the transition of Cricket Tasmania and Australian content from Ninja (Bellerive) Stadium to Mac Point,” Rockliff said.
“It locks in support for the planned Community and Cricket Academy at Seven Mile Beach … (and) will also provide a facility to grow pitches for Mac Point.”
PLANNING OPPOSITION
The project was opposed by the Tasmanian Planning Commission and subsequently ignored by government.
In September, the commission said the benefits from the project would be outweighed by the drawbacks especially given its cost.
It raised concern over the cost of the project, first costed at $715 million but now stands at $1.13 billion and is likely to cost even more.
The state government has already flagged public sector job cuts to help pay for the project as well as a short-stay levy from July 1 that it hopes will raise $11 million.
To get the deal through, the state government agreed to an $845m cap on state spending with $15m from the AFL and $240m from the federal government.
