Community at the ready for huge sports infrastructure

More pieces come together as the state in on the “journey to first bounce” and to make Tas ready for it’s AFL team debut. Here’s how the High Performance Centre is shaping up

Minister Nick Duigan with Marcus Vermey Candidate for Nelson and Oscar Dykes (Lauderdale U14 and Devils Academy), Maggie Wallace (Kingborough U15 and Devils Academy). Picture: supplied

The “journey to the first bounce” continues with a budget funding announcement for the High Performance Centre based at Kingston’s Twin Ovals.

Sports Minister Nick Duigan announced $105 million for the centre to “bring the project to life.”

Mr Duigan said it was a “massive project for the region”.

“We know our AFL aspirations require the training and administration centre because it will be the home of the AFLW and men’s team as well,” he said.

Sports minister Nick Duigan. Picture: Linda Higginson

“This will be the place that brings that dream to life.”

Kingborough Council mayor Paula Wriedt said the community was full of pride about being the home for Tasmanians football club, the Tasmanian Devils.

“We are going to be the home of not only the Tasmanian high performance centre but also the Tasmanian Football Club,” she said.

“That is a really historic occasion for this municipality.”

But it was more than community pride, it was also a significant economic opportunity.

“It will be a massive boost for the community,” Mr Duigan said.

Ms Wreidt said the community would see benefits for years to come.

“Of course there is going to be the economic benefit both during construction with jobs and money being spent in the area,” she said.

“But also then after construction when we have hundreds more people who are working in the area, spending money in the shops in the area, who are moving into homes in the area and who are really making this their community.”

From the Tasmania Football Club, Kath McCann said the club was focused on getting the club going, something years in the making to the “journey to first bounce”.

“We’re going to deliver something really special for Tasmania,” Ms McCann said.

Kingborough cricket club president Jeff Ross said the club was thrilled with the opportunity for the club and the community.

“Having an AFL next door, having the Jack Jumpers up the hill, who wouldn’t want to come play sport in the municipality?” he said.

“There are all sorts of opportunities we are excited to explore in the future.”

Tasmania Devils’ Kath McCann. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

Ms McCann said the club was “confident” in working with the government.

The sports minister said design plans were nearly finished and a development application should be lodged in the next few months.

Tender will hopefully be open by the end of the year.

The deadline for the project is October 31, 2027.

Confidence was high from the minister, mayor and Tasmania Football Club the deadline would be met.

Some criticism from Labor has come out regarding the increase from $60 million to $105 million.

“In yet another demonstration of the Minority Rockliff Government’s inability to manage major infrastructure projects, Minister Nick Duigan has today revealed the Kingston High Performance centre has massively blown out in delivery time frame and budget,” Labor MP Anita Dow said.

“The original state government contribution to this project was $60 million. Now, after two years of trademark and chaos and incompetence from the Minority Rockliff Government the budgeted amount has jumped to $105 million. That’s a 75 per cent increase.”

Mr Duigan said the government had been transparent in funding.

“We’ve done a considerable amount of due diligence, significant amount of planning to understand what it will cost to deliver this project,” he said.

Mr Duigan said revised estimates had indicated the $60 million would need to be increased.

Originally published as Community at the ready for huge sports infrastructure