Darklab’s Leigh Carmichael: Don’t let our Tasmanian AFL dream turn into a political nightmare

Tasmania’s AFL triumph has turned sour with outrage – and DarkLab director Leigh Carmichael is struggling to understand why there is so much outrage over the proposed stadium.

A concept image of the proposed Hobart stadium at Mac Point. Picture: Supplied by the AFL.

• Stadium project needs light rail, Darklab director says

In a world increasingly polarised by political allegiance, it was heartening to see the federal Labor government and the state Liberal government come together in a rare act of solidarity, with the sole purpose of making Tasmania a better place to live, work and play. Through their co-operation, they were able to deliver on a dream that many Tasmanians have been working on for more than 30 years. A Tasmanian AFL team.

As the lead designer of the original Mona Macquarie Point vision, I wish to express my strong support for the Mac Point urban renewal project, including a roofed stadium.

Our study for the original vision highlighted many unique attributes of the site, including its proximity to the city, connectivity via the intersection of the three major highways, potential for light rail and ferry terminals, and highly accessible pedestrian paths.

Dark Mofo has utilised the space for festival events over many years, and we understand, through experience, the challenges faced by event organisers to find appropriate venues and infrastructure for large-scale public gatherings in the city. A purpose-built stadium responding to modern-day audience expectations will help to address the city’s lack of festival and event infrastructure. A new roofed arena will undoubtedly help attract major international events and artists into the state.

Mac Point is the last remaining flat area able to hold upwards of 20,000 people within walking distance from the CBD. It is a rare and valuable opportunity. Therefore our conclusion is that the site should be a publicly owned place for people, for recreational and cultural activity.

A concept image of the proposed Hobart stadium at Mac Point. Picture: Supplied by the AFL

Our support for the urban renewal project is contingent on three key points:

APPROPRIATE transportation and visitor infrastructure solutions;

LIGHT rail through the northern suburbs to Brighton.

COMMITMENT to a Truth and Reconciliation Park.

Twenty-first century transport and visitor infrastructure will be vital for delivering large-scale public events, and critical for underpinning financial viability for event organisers. Success will be largely measured by attendance, so we must ensure easy access for all Tasmanians.

Developing the light rail transport corridor would act as a catalyst to stimulate economic growth, providing opportunities for low-cost housing, aged-care facilities, student accommodation, and commercial and community benefit along the entire length of the track.

Living close to the line will connect residences to essential healthcare and other services based in the city. In line with the original Mona vision, it’s our belief that once the government has invested in this infrastructure, and councils rezone the land, the private sector will be encouraged to invest, thereby alleviating the current housing shortage. The light rail project has huge potential to improve economic growth over the medium to long-term as infrastructure projects along the line will continue to be built for many decades.

DarkLab director Leigh Carmichael, who was the lead designer of the original Mona Macquarie Point vision, has expressed strong support for the Mac Point urban renewal project, including a roofed-stadium. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

For our state to fully embrace the future, we must first acknowledge the past – together. Some truth-telling has begun, but there is more work to do. We would like to see the state government make a firm financial commitment to the Truth and Reconciliation Park and ensure it is integrated and central to the precinct, and is not left as a tokenistic afterthought.

Finally, we watched with bewilderment as backlash towards the stadium unfolded over the past few weeks. The bipartisan triumph of finally securing an AFL team quickly turned sour, and descended to name calling, immature slogans and the re-emergence of the old “two-headed Tasmanian” jokes.

While we appreciate the differing views and opinions for alternative solutions for the Mac Point site, we don’t really understand the outrage over the stadium. Saving the mighty Franklin River made sense, but right now we are risking a world-class cultural precinct, an AFL licence, and the aspirations and dreams of the next generation, over a sewage treatment plant and a car park, or conceivably, a private enclave of luxury apartments.

Leigh Carmichael is the director of DarkLab.