RSL Tasmania forms unlikely alliance in anti-stadium campaign, seeks greater Hobart Cenotaph protections

Tasmania’s peak ex-service body has ramped up its campaign against the proposed Macquarie Point 1.0 stadium, joining forces with an unlikely collaborator to protect the Hobart Cenotaph.

Hobart Greens MLC Cassy O’Connor with Clark Greens MP Vica Bayley. Picture: Linda Higginson

RSL Tasmania will help the Greens draft legislation to increase protections for the Hobart Cenotaph, which CEO John Hardy says would be “dominated” by the proposed Macquarie Point stadium and have its “critical sightlines” impeded.

The stadium would be located just 95 metres from the Cenotaph and would be 40-50 metres high.

The state’s peak ex-service body and its subbranches have overwhelmingly voted against supporting the current proposed stadium design and have sent a briefing paper to members of the Tasmanian parliament, asking them to pass special legislation to protect the Cenotaph from encroaching development.

It represents a significant escalation in RSL Tasmania’s campaign of opposition to the stadium, with Mr Hardy saying the Rockliff government may have “underestimated the ferocity with which we will fight for what we believe is right”.

CEO of RSL Tasmania, John Hardy, at Hobart Cenotaph. Picture: Linda Higginson

“Sometimes it’s hard to stand against the wind. We’ve got to – we have no choice,” he said.

“In 50 years if there’s a stadium … I don’t want anybody to be able to say, ‘Well, what did RSL Tasmania do about it?’ If it stands or doesn’t, we’ve done our bit. That’s our duty.”

Mr Hardy said the stadium would “destroy” important sightlines from the Cenotaph to places such as Sandy Bay, Battery Point, and the city, which “gives [soldiers] reference points of the last things they saw before they went into conflict”.

The Cenotaph was unveiled in 1925 in the wake of the First World War and is set to mark its centennial as the nation’s oldest state war memorial next year.

Mr Hardy reiterated RSL Tasmania’s strong support for a Tasmanian AFL team and said the organisation did not oppose the notion of a Hobart stadium outright; rather, it simply opposed the Macquarie Point 1.0 design.

“All we really need the state government to do is to have a serious conversation about Mac 2.0. Because that solves our problem,” he said.

Mac 2.0 signage the Regatta pavilion in Hobart. Picture: Linda Higginson

Greens veteran affairs spokesman Vica Bayley said the party would aim to bring on legislation enshrining stronger protections for the Cenotaph later this year.

“Under normal planning rules the sightlines are very well protected. The Sullivans Cove Planning Scheme has 15-metre height limits on the Macquarie Point site and the sightlines that we’re talking about … are explicitly named up as being required to be protected,” he said.

“And of course, those sightlines would be impacted by the stadium development. One problem with the project of state significance process … is that it overrides any and all planning rules and regulations.

“So the 15-metre height limits at Macquarie Point, the protected sightlines, they are all thrown out the door, and what is protected becomes entirely at the discretion of a selected panel.”

Veterans’ Affairs Minister Guy Barnett said respecting the Cenotaph was “part of our government’s agenda” and that the Liberals would “ensure that there’s consultation with the RSL and our veteran community”.

He accused the Greens of “trying to kill off the stadium”.

“This is all about their opposition to growth, development, and progress,” he said.

Originally published as RSL Tasmania forms unlikely alliance in anti-stadium campaign, seeks greater Hobart Cenotaph protections