Former Premier says the DEC/NBL deal is a must have not a luxury for post COVID-19 Tasmania

The COVID-19 pandemic has put the DEC/NBL deal on hold, but one former Premier believes the project is needed now more than ever.

EMBARGO 12.01am 7th November 2019. Artists impressions for the Derwent Entertainment Centre (DEC) for games with the NBL. Basketball / development / redevelopment / Glenorchy

THE redevelopment of the Derwent Entertainment Centre and the creation of a Tasmanian NBL team is needed now more than ever, says former Premier David Bartlett.

Bartlett, who is on the Tasmanian NBL advisory committee, said the in-principle agreement between Tasmanian Premier Peter Gutwein and league owner Larry Kestelman announced prior to the COVID-19 pandemic should be seen as an economic stimulus, not as a sporting luxury.

Included in the deal is a taxpayer funded $40 million DEC upgrade and a new $20 million indoor multisport venue next door in return for the 10th NBL licence and $150 million private capital investment to develop a hotel, restaurant and retain precinct at adjacent Wilkinsons Point.

“I’ve always said with this deal, basketball is just the icing on the cake,” Bartlett said.

“This deal is a huge jobs creator for Tasmania with $40 million worth of shovel-ready projects and then another five-year role out of $150 million of private capital investment.

“It is the sort of thing governments I think would be desperate for.

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“No doubt the state budget is going to be challenged and no doubt there will be priority expenditure and with all of these things the job of governments is to set priorities but ultimately economic stimulus of this nature – the size of $200 million-plus – doesn’t come about easily and it certainly doesn’t come about readily post coronavirus world.

“These sorts of projects we need to grab and cling on to because they are the things that are going to revive our economy and our construction industry.”

Tasmanian Premier Peter Gutwein and NBL owner and executive chairman Larry Kestelman today announced that the leagues 10th team would be based in Tasmania. Picture: Zak Simmonds

An economic impact report stated the deal would create 1200 jobs and $100 million of economic development in Hobart’s northern suburbs.

Bartlett was Premier from 2008 to 2011, which included the Global Financial Crisis of September 2008.

“Post GFC if a project like this came along we would have grabbed it with both hands,” he said.

“Basketball is just the icing on the cake but I would add to that Tasmania is going to go through a rough trot and wouldn’t it be great to have something to build some state pride around?”

The NBL and the Government have agreed to a two-month halt on the deal during the pandemic.

However, if the Government is unable to commit after this time frame (due to expire at the start of next month), a Tasmanian team will be unable to be ready to go in a redeveloped DEC by the 2021-22 season as planned.

Bartlett said he had no reason to believe the NBL has lost any enthusiasm for a Tasmanian team despite having to deal with its own COVID-19 issues.

“Ultimately this is a once in a lifetime opportunity for Tasmania and while the NBL might look a bit different for a couple of years in terms of American imports and other bits and pieces, this is our opportunity to be on the ground floor in the rebuild,” he said.