A third option for Tasmania’s AFL stadium revealed by developer David Marriner
A multi-millionaire developer with strong links to Tasmania has been briefing MPs, local government and the business sector about a third option for a sports stadium in Hobart. The details >>>
Tasmania
Don't miss out on the headlines from Tasmania. Followed categories will be added to My News.
A major development – including a third option for a multipurpose stadium – has been proposed for Hobart’s northern suburbs.
It is the brainchild of Melbourne theatre owner and developer David Marriner who is tight-lipped on his plans to create an environmentally friendly community precinct.
The development, known as Derwent 7010, includes 2600 affordable and energy efficient houses and an all-sports hub with an unroofed ground for football and soccer, basketball courts and several other sports.
It will be unveiled publicly on July 25 but Mr Marriner has been busy in recent weeks briefing MPs, local government representatives, business leaders and the racing industry on his plans.
To go ahead, the bold development, would need the 150-year-old Tasmanian Racing Club to relocate from its Elwick headquarters – most likely to Seven Mile Beach on Hobart’s Eastern Shore – and for the Defence Department to sell its land at Dowsing Point.
Former Collingwood Football Club president Eddie McGuire confirmed the third option for an AFL stadium in a recent podcast.
He said new Tasmania Football Club CEO Brendan Gale should be “getting agreement on building a stadium which hasn’t happened yet”.
“There’s two options down there and I know there’s a third coming,” Mr McGuire revealed.
A multi-millionaire, 74-year-old Mr Marriner, who is semi-retired, declined to talk publicly about Derwent 7010. It is believed he has been working on the community driven precinct, which has an emphasis on social housing, for seven years.
While 7010 is Glenorchy’s postcode it is also believed to make reference to the 70 benefits to the community he believes the development offers.
It is understood one of the world’s leading professors of innovation, design and architecture in Europe has been working on the project.
No cost has been put on the development and no detail is available on who would pay for it.
He has shown renders and detailed plans in his briefings but the Mercury has not been provided with any plans or designs.
Mr Marriner spends about a week a month in Tasmania and has a house in Battery Point. He has been investing in the state for the past 37 years.
He also is behind tourist developments in Far North Queensland.
It is understood the houses would be affordable and available to be leased. They would be made from concrete blocks and designed to reduce energy costs by 30 per cent.
Mr Marriner owns the concrete-making facility at Brighton which is being used to build the Bridgewater Bridge.
It is believed he is keen to keep using the facility when the bridge is completed in 2025.
Several of the sources who have been briefed told the Mercury they were impressed with Mr Marriner’s plans.
“It is an amazing project,” one business leader said.
“It would be a massive sporting and entertainment precinct.
“While the stadium doesn’t have a roof there are panels as part of the design which would reduce the wind.
“It’s been very well thought through and he’s had people in Europe come up with a high tech design for the houses.
“They look bloody good and I’d live in one.”
Another source isn’t convinced about the racing club moving to Seven Mile Beach.
“It’s all a bit pie in the sky but there’s a sweetener with a 1600m straight track next to Charlie Goggin's golf club at Seven Mile Beach.
“About $15m of government money has been spent on the track in recent years which would be a waste to leave behind.”
Another person, who spoke to the Mercury on condition of anonymity, said the buildings were “a superb design” and the plans were “well advanced”.
“It has a lot of challenges though with having to move the racing club and relies on Defence selling its land. The housing plans make a lot of sense.
“The big question is – who’s going to pay for it?”
A spokesman for Assistant Defence Minister Matt Thistlethwaite said the government was still reviewing the findings of an independent defence estate audit it received last December.
“As such we won’t be discussing individual sites now,” he said.
‘It makes the other two (stadium) options look amateurish’
A powerful union is backing a third option for an AFL stadium at Glenorchy, saying it makes the two proposals for Macquarie Point “look amateurish”.
Construction Forestry and Maritime Employees Union state secretary Richie Hassett said developer David Marriner’s proposal for a sports hub would attract international visitors and the housing plans would ensure construction jobs for years to come.
Mr Hassett said Mr Marriner, a union supporter, had “single-handedly revived the arts in Melbourne 30 years ago”.
“I’m just glad someone’s got a vision and David’s vision is future-proofing Tasmanians for generations when it comes to our ability to provide a sporting hub for everyone.
“I’ve been fortunate enough to have been briefed on it and it makes the other two (stadium) options look amateurish.
“The benefits for this third option for Tasmanians as a whole far outweigh what has been proposed to date.”
Mr Hassett said the housing component would help ease the housing crisis.
“If what he’s proposing gets up, teams from all over the world will be able to train there and it will be a one-stop shop for elite programs.
“From a union’s perspective there’s an opportunity there from the housing perspective for our members to have years’ worth of work.
“For people to travel down from the North of the state to an AFL game or JackJumpers’ game or Big Bash cricket in summer, and to even see a show and an AFL game on the same day, is great. It’s a hop, step and a jump to Mona too.”
Mr Hassett said half of the workers employed on the Bridgewater Bridge were not local. “The housing part of this project will ultimately be done by companies which are Tasmanian run, they’re smaller scale projects that local businesses will have the opportunity to go and work on,” he said.
Royal Agricultural Society of Tasmania CEO Scott Gadd was “very impressed” with the vision, which would complement the nearby showgrounds project.
“David is a man of vision and it’s clear he does good work,” he said.
“It’s a brilliant vision, but there are a lot of obstacles ahead, but I wish him well.”
The RAST is building a new showgrounds and is hoping to get an amendment to the planning scheme for 466 housing apartments.
More Coverage
Originally published as A third option for Tasmania’s AFL stadium revealed by developer David Marriner
Join the conversation
Opposition threatens action after Spirit bosses’ revelations
The Premier “must act”, Labor says, after damning testimony given by TT-Line bosses on Tuesday. The opposition’s threat >>
Read more
Council tried to sting developer with $900k condition
A Southern Tasmanian council tried to make it a condition for a developer to pay $900k to approve a major subdivision project. Here’s why that was considered unreasonable.
Read more