TV crime series The Gloaming trumps Dark Park at Mac Point

Dark Mofo’s most popular event was unable to find a new home this year, with Macquarie Point instead being used for short term commercial gain, says the festival’s creative director.

DARK Mofo’s most popular event was unable to find a new home this year, with Macquarie Point instead being used for short term commercial gain, says the festival’s creative director.

The creation of a carpark and the leasing out of the site’s SeaRoad shed for filming of television crime series The Gloaming meant Macquarie Point was not a viable option for Dark Park after four years of the highly popular, family-friendly art park.

Dark Park’s mix of free light shows, soundscapes and burning rituals had become the festival’s most popular attraction.

It attracted 98,000 visitors at last year’s Dark Mofo festival.

The festival had spent up to $2 million on the event each year.

Dark Mofo creative director Leigh Carmichael said it was disappointing that Dark Park was unable to happen this year.

“While we’ve been looking for an alternative, it’s become quite clear that there aren’t many suitable sites in Hobart,” he said.

“It highlights to us why Mac Point is so important as a unique venue for hosting large scale community events.

“We understand the need for short a term commercial return, but it is a shame when it comes at the expense of the site’s intended community use.”

Mr Carmichael said the burning of the ogoh-ogoh would still take place at Macquarie Point on the final night of the festival.

“While it’s not ideal for Dark Mofo this year, it doesn’t really matter — our primary concern is that the long term vision [for Macquarie Point] be realised,” he said.

Dark Park at Macquarie Point in Hobart has been the hub of Dark Mofo, directed by Leigh Carmichael, for the past four years. Picture courtesy of Mona

Macquarie Point Development Corporation acting chief executive officer Greg Cooper said the site would still be hosting some Dark Mofo activities this year, including leasing out the Goods Shed for exhibits.

“The only area that will be unavailable to Dark Park this year is the SeaRoads shed,” he said.

“It has been leased out to support the Tasmanian film industry, currently being used during the filming of The Gloaming. The corporation is pleased to support this important and growing industry in Tasmania.”

Opposition infrastructure spokesman David O’Byrne said Macquarie Point was a “patchwork quilt of activity”.

“This is a prime example of the lack of clarity, vision or direction for the site from the government and the corporation,” he said.

“Dark Park over the last four years has been a fantastic hub of free art for Tasmanians and tourists alike to walk through and have a unique experience. It triggered in people an idea of what the site could be — public open space, cultural events — a real people’s place that could bring the community together, but instead we’ve got a car park with a couple of bits of the side and no long term vision.”

There have been three master plans released for the redevelopment of the 9ha former railyards precinct.

The latest version included many of the elements of the 2016 Mona version such as the proposed reconciliation park, an Antarctic and science precinct and public open space.

It also included residential housing.

The project is expected to evolve in three stages over 30 years.