AFL high performance centre rumoured for Kingborough over Clarence

Kingston could be the home of the Tasmania Devils, with rumours swirling the Kingborough Council won its bid for the high performance centre.

Kingborough Council's vision for Tasmania's AFL High Performance Centre at the Twin Ovals. Picture Kingborough Council

Labor has described the imminent announcement of Kingborough as the home of the new AFL High Performance Centre as “the worst-kept secret in town”, slamming the government for letting down the Clarence community by walking away from the Rosny site.

Labor spokesperson for Sport, Luke Edmunds, said “last-minute switcheroo” from Rosny to Kingston’s Twin Ovals would create trust issues for the Liberals with voters on Hobart’s Eastern Shore.

Concept design of proposed AFL High Performance Centre at Rosny. Credit: Populous.

“Despite plans to move the centre to Kingston being the worst-kept secret in town, the Liberals have been maintaining for months that Rosny remained their preferred site,” Mr Edmunds said.

“If this was going to be the result, why did the Government divide the Clarence community? When was this decision made?

“Premier Rockliff, former Minister Street and Minister Duigan have refused to be upfront about this project, despite Labor asking questions the whole way through.

“Congratulations to the Kingborough community who will see the social and economic benefits of this decision for decades to come. It is disappointing to me as a local member that the Eastern Shore will miss out.”

Labor's Luke Edmunds. Image: David Killick.

Speaking to media on Monday, Premier Jeremy Rockliff said the government was still “going through those deliberations” about the site of the Tasmania devils’ High Performance Centre.

“As soon as we have confirmed, we’ll make an announcement,” Mr Rockliff said.

“Well, we have to have processes to go through and as soon as it’s confirmed and as soon as we have the information of exactly where the location is, you’ll be the first to know.”

Clarence mayor Brendan Blomeley said at this stage the news was “purely speculative”.

“Since the 22nd of December last year, when I stood with the former Minister for Sport and representatives of the Tasmania Devils Football Club and Rosny was announced as the preferred site, I have not been told anything different,” he said on Monday.

“All we have been continually told is the Government and Club preferred Rosny, and it was the only site that satisfied the AFL’s criteria, because it was close to a population centre and transport corridors.

“Once a decision by government is announced, I will have a great deal more to say.”

Originally published as AFL high performance centre rumoured for Kingborough over Clarence