Devil of a fight in Nelson as stadium takes centre stage at Legislative Council election

The proposed AFL stadium at Macquarie Point looms large over this Saturday’s Legislative Council election battle in the nearby division of Nelson.

Independent member for Nelson, Meg Webb. Picture: Supplied

The proposed AFL stadium at Macquarie Point looms large over this Saturday’s Legislative Council election battle in the nearby division of Nelson.

Stretching from Sandy Bay in the north to Blackmans Bay in the south – and encompassing the planned site of the Tasmanian Devils’ high-performance centre in Kingston – Nelson in 2025 pits an independent incumbent previously critical the state government’s deal with the AFL, against a Liberal challenger who is “100 per cent” for the stadium’s construction.

A Greens candidate who described the project as “a dead weight” for future generations of Tasmanians rounds out what is a three-way choice for Nelson voters.

Butcher Marcus Vermey is the Liberal candidate in the Legislative Council seat of Nelson. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

Incumbent member, Meg Webb, who first won in the seat in 2019 after running on a platform of greater transparency in politics, said she would continue using her independent status to establish parliamentary inquiries, scrutinise government policy and spending, and bring community voices to the floor of parliament.

“During this campaign I’m hearing from people concerned about fair and equitable access to affordable and secure housing, health care and education services,” Ms Webb said.

“There is a real sense that the state Liberal government has mismanaged these basic services and that far too many Tasmanians are doing it tough and being left behind.”

Greens candidate for Nelson, Nathan Volf. Picture: Supplied

Ms Webb, who recently fronted an anti-stadium rally in Hobart to claim Premier Jeremy Rockliff’s agreement with the AFL had jeopardised Tasmania’s long-held hopes of a team, said her stance was based on growing voter unease with the government that extended beyond a single infrastructure project.

“I think the community’s disquiet about the stadium is symptomatic of other concerns, such as losing trust in government over secret deals with corporate mates, the bullying and name-calling of those who dare disagree with them, and arrogance in trying to change the planning rules when it suits them,” she said.

Liberal candidate, Marcus Vermey, whose family has operated a butchery business in Nelson for more than 60 years, said he was running to secure the future of Tasmania’s younger generations.

Mr Vermey, who campaigned for the lower house electorate of Clark at the 2024 state election, said he wanted to be a parliamentary conduit for those in his community working hard to “get things done”.

The businessman said that after a door-knocking campaign which revealed many constituents wanted greater opportunities in the state, he was even more convinced of the economic and social benefits a new stadium would generate for all Tasmanians.

“Most of the people on the doors in Nelson are very much pro-stadium,” he said.

“We have all seen the benefits of the ‘MONA effect’.

“I know that was private investment, but it’s been 16 years since we’ve had something so significant which puts us on the map.

“I firmly believe that it will bring economic benefits, because it will attract businesses wanting to be part of Tasmania, and will show that the state is open for investment.

“So I’m 100 per cent behind the stadium, and can’t wait to see it.”

Greens candidate, Nathan Volf, credited the work of the party’s upper house member for Hobart, Cassy O’Connor, for inspiring him to run in Nelson.

The social worker said with the state’s young people currently struggling to access adequate healthcare and housing, now was not the time to construct a new stadium.

“The Macquarie Point stadium would be a dead weight around the ankle of Tasmanians for decades to come,” Mr Volf said.

“The fact that the Liberals are so focused on a stadium is out of touch and simply not good enough.”

Originally published as Devil of a fight in Nelson as stadium takes centre stage at Legislative Council election