The state government has already spent $14.4m on consultants for UTAS and Mac Point stadiums

Construction is years away, but consultants are already cashing in on Tasmania’s two major stadium projects. See the full list of contracts awarded.

Artist's impression of new externals of UTAS Stadium

The state government has spent $14.4m on consultants for the state’s two major stadium projects, before a sod has been turned on either project.

Mercury analysis of pre-construction tenders awarded for the Launceston UTAS stadium redevelopment and the proposed Macquarie Point stadium shows consultancies have included:

• Setting up the new statutory body Stadiums Tasmania. KPMG was paid $470,000 to help establish Stadiums Tasmania and Malouf Management Services was paid $242,000 for “consulting services associated with preparing Stadiums Tasmania to commence”.

• Hiring people to hire people, with $150,000 paid to SRI Partners to hire a CEO, executives and board members for Stadiums Tasmania.

• Planning, reviewing and advising around UTAS stadium. SGS economics was paid $99,820 for a northern stadiums strategy, Johnstaff Projects was paid $59,000 for a peer review of the stadium upgrade, Resource Coordinator Partnership was paid $90,000 for specialist advice. KPMG was paid $90,000 for a review of the existing infrastructure profile

• Lawyers. MinterEllison won a $449,000 contract for legal advice about UTAS stadium.

• Architects. Melbourne company Smartform was paid $149,800 to develop an initial functional design brief for Macquarie Point. Another Melbourne firm, Populous Design, was paid $6.8m to design the UTAS redevelopment.

• Suveyors. WTP was paid $436,000 for quantity surveyor services for UTAS stadium and has also won a $3.4m contract for quantity surveying consultancy services on the Macquarie Point stadium.

In addition, there are four major pending tenders for Macquarie Point: An economic development and social, cultural and community wellbeing assessment; a lead design consultancy, a project management consultancy and building surveying.

A concept image of Hobart's proposed stadium at Macquarie Point.(Supplied: AFL) Tasmania AFL Tasmania Devils AFL stadium

The $715m roofed Macquarie Point stadium and $130m UTAS stadium development are both in the planning stages.

The Launceston project is well advanced, with construction due to start later this year and be completed in 2027.

The contentious Macquarie Point project, which is inextricably linked to Tasmania’s popular AFL team, is due to begin construction next year and be finished by 2028/29.

Greens Clark MP Vica Bayley said the Liberals should not be spending millions already on the Macquarie Point stadium amid widespread opposition, significant known issues with the site and construction costs blowing out of control for major projects across the state

Vica Bayley, Greens member for Clark. Picture: Caroline Tan

“When the Liberals announced they’d build a stadium more than two years ago it was clearly a reckless move - especially given the many important issues facing the state,” Mr Bayley said.

“But what’s worse is seeing them waste more and more taxpayer money as they double down on the project just to avoid the embarrassment of admitting they were wrong and taking on the AFL in a renegotiation of its deal.

“The Tasmanian Greens are strong supporters of our AFLW and AFL teams. But this stadium is strongly opposed by stakeholders and the community, doesn’t comply with basic planning rules, and is unfunded and uncertain on a technical level. We need to stop wasting money on it immediately.”

A state government spokeswoman said the spending supported transformative infrastructure projects for Tasmania.

“The Tasmanian Government is proud to be delivering Tasmania’s very own AFL team, with the Tasmanian Devils already boasting more than 180,000 excited members,” the spokeswoman said.

“Our Government is also investing in the game-changing infrastructure Tasmania needs to keep our economy strong and create jobs. We invite the Greens to get on board with job-creating, economic-enabling infrastructure that will benefit Tasmanians for generations to come.”

In addition to tenders awarded for the Hobart stadium, Macquarie Point Development corporation recently commissioned another geotechnical examination, awarding a $248,000 contract to WSP Australia.

A spokesman for the Corporation said there had been a range of geotechnical investigations, with the current operation to collect data on the hardness of the dolerite bedrock.

macquarie point stadium artists impression

Full list if stadium tenders

AWARDED

$99,820: SGS Economics and Planning. Northern stadium strategy

$54,000: Wise Lord Ferguson. Probity advice on UTAS stadium

$59,000: Johnstaff Projects. Professional Peer Review of the proposed upgrades to UTAS stadium

$150,000: SRI Partners. Recruiting for a CEO, executives and board members for Stadiums Tasmania

$98,000: Waypoint. Advice on stadium redevelopments

$470,000: KPMG. To help establish Stadiums Tasmania

$90,000: Resource Coordinator Partnership. Specialist stadium advice for UTAS stadium

$436,000: WT partnership. Quantity surveying for UTAS stadium

$6.8m: Populous Architects. UTAS stadium design

$60,000: PWC. Provide a report to support discussions between the Principal and the AFL estimating the economic and socio-economic impact of the construction and operations of a new stadium in Hobart, Tasmania

$449,000: MinterEllison. Legal advice

$1.7m: Duo Projects. UTAS Stadium project management.

$242,000: Malouf Management Services. Consulting services associated with preparing Stadiums Tasmania to commence

$98,000: Geoton geotechnical. Testing and site investigations for the proposed redevelopment of the UTAS Stadium

$90,000: Riches. Stadium governance review model

$90,000: KPMG. Review of the existing UTAS Stadium Infrastructure Profile, and delivery of an updated asset condition assessment report

$149,000: Smartform Architects. Development of an Initial Functional Design Brief for the Macquarie Point Multipurpose Stadium

$3.4m: WT Partnership. Quantity surveying for Macquarie Point stadium.

CLOSED

Macquarie Point Multi-purpose Stadium - Economic Development and Social, Cultural and Community Wellbeing Assessment

Macquarie Point Multi-Purpose Stadium - Lead Design Consultancy

Project Management Consultancy - Macquarie Point Multi-Purpose Stadium

CURRENT TENDERS

Building Surveying Services - Macquarie Point Multi-purpose Stadium

Originally published as The state government has already spent $14.4m on consultants for UTAS and Mac Point stadiums