AFL High Performance Centre out, Clarence rethinks its heart

Clarence’s City Heart Plan returns to centre stage since the AFL High Performance Centre will forge ahead elsewhere. Here’s what’s planned.

Concept plan of Clarence City Council new mixed use development and plaza for Bayfield Street car park. Picture: Supplied

The AFL High Performance Centre is out, and the Clarence City Heart Plan is back as the main game.

Clarence City Council is launching a fourth round of community engagement on its plans to reinvent the city heart, with the proposal to embrace developments such as public green spaces, cultural activities and transport corridors across eight precincts.

Mayor Brendan Blomeley said the City Heart Plan, first brought to the community in 2020, aimed to provide a pathway to “a sustainable and inclusive city centre,” for its residents, businesses and visitors.

“Now that the uncertainty surrounding whether the AFL/AFLW High Performance Centre would be included in the plan has been resolved, the council is committed to seeing the City Heart precincts developed, guided by the plan,” Mr Blomeley said.

“The ideas in the final draft plan reflect what we have heard from our community as well as

building on council’s own work to make our municipality a welcoming, inclusive and vibrant

place to work, live and play.

“Clarence is a rapidly growing city, and we’re proud to have created a community-supported

vision for the future that celebrates our cultural heritage, while positioning us as a leader in the global movement for more liveable urban spaces.”

City of Clarence Mayor Brendan Blomeley. Picture: Chris Kidd

Clarence City Council had been a key mover in plans to establish an AFL/AFLW High Performance Centre at Rosny, as part of the Tasmania Devils entry to the big league.

But the move faced community opposition and, in mid-November, the state government announced the centre would instead be sited at Kingston Twin Ovals.

With that decision made, Mr Blomeley said it was time to refocus on the Clarence City Heart Plan.

The draft plan identifies eight key, interconnected precincts.

“The Clarence City Heart Plan balances commerce, education and cultural activities with

sustainable, human-scale development, creating a liveable city that reflects Clarence’s unique

cultural, social and environmental values,” Mr Blomeley said.

The plan puts a priority on pedestrian safety and access, bicycle networks, the natural environment and integrated transport systems.

“With the delay caused by the High Performance Centre decision, it has been a while since we have shared the plan with the community,” Mr Blomeley said.

“We invite all Clarence residents to re-engage with the plan and if you are able, spend some time in the eight precincts to get a greater understanding of plan’s vision for each area.”

The Clarence and wider community can provide feedback through an online survey,

open now until February 2, 2025.

To view the final draft Clarence City Heart Plan and provide feedback please visit City of Clarence website.

Originally published as AFL High Performance Centre out, Clarence rethinks its heart