Hobart to discuss draft stadium submission on Monday: Mayor asks premier to stick with POSS process
With claims a proposed Mac Point stadium will blow the state government’s budget for the project, the Hobart council claims there’s more issues. Here’s what they’re worried about.
Tasmania
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Proponents of a stadium at Macquarie Point need to address “many issues” with the project, including a lack of “meaningful consultation” with Tasmanian Aboriginal people, before any economic benefits can be discussed.
On Sunday, Hobart Lord Mayor Anna Reynolds encouraged people to read the City of Hobart’s full draft submission to the Draft Integrated Assessment Report for the Macquarie Point Multipurpose Stadium, not just the economic report that found “significant” economic benefits for the city from the stadium.
“Whilst the assessment report identifies potential economic contributions to the city, it also raises many issues that would need to be addressed in order for the stadium project to be realised,” Ms Reynolds said.
“Realistically, these issues must be addressed before any stadium economics are considered.”
Ms Reynolds said issues identified in the draft report highlighted why the council and other groups were calling on the premier to “uphold transparency and public participation through a proper planning process”.
Transportation, project integration and Aboriginal heritage were some of the issues with the precinct plan identified by the council in its draft submission response to the Tasmanian Planning Commission’s integrated assessment report for the stadium.
The submission stated there was a “significant risk” that events would negatively impact road users travelling through or to Hobart on event days.
It said footpath and linkage upgrades would be needed to appropriately cater for the increased pedestrian movement from a redevelopment at Macquarie Point.
The report found that while the stadium design was a “pleasing form in and of itself”, there was a lack of clarity in how the stadium would be integrated with the surrounding project.
“The relationships that are set up between the proposed stadium and places and buildings around it are not respectful or complementary,” council’s submission read.
Council’s submission noted that the Tasmanian Planning Commission was unable to make findings on the impact to Aboriginal heritage due to an absence of feedback from Macquarie Point Development Corporation regarding its consultation with the Aboriginal community.
The TPC report found works to develop a northern access road could affect a registered Aboriginal Heritage Site on the Western Banks of Cenotaph Hill, but there was currently insufficient evidence about the development of the road to make a clear finding.
It said “an assessment of landscape character and values and the effect the project may have on these values was not provided for various reasons.”
“The Panel acknowledges that only Aboriginal people can truly speak to and understand the Aboriginal cultural and landscape values of the place.
“Therefore, until feedback is provided through engagement and assessment by the Aboriginal community, the Panel is unable to make findings on these issues at this point,” the TPC report said.
The City of Hobart draft response agreed that only Aboriginal people can truly understand the potential impact on heritage.
The draft submission is set to be discussed at the Hobart City Council meeting on Monday night.
Ms Reynolds said she was looking forward to hearing the views of elected representatives before finalising the submission.
She said the Council’s Planning Committee recently called on the State Government to thoroughly consider and respond appropriately to the Tasmanian Planning Commission’s draft report.
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