Clarence council calls special meeting to hear from a group trying to torpedo $70m AFL High Performance Centre

$70m AFL High Performance Centre on the old Rosny golf course has hit the rough with a group objecting to the state-of-the-art community facility.

Rosny Parklands site as Tasmanian AFL teams' home. Indicative renders of the site. Picture: Tasmanian Government

A call to arms has been issued to fans of Tasmania’s AFL team to come out loud and proud in support of the $70m High Performance Centre at Rosny after council called a special meeting to hear from a group objecting to the state-of-the-art facility.

Confirmed as the site for the community-based HPC on December 22, the vision for the Tasmanian men’s and women’s, boys and girls teams facility included an oval on each side of Rosny Hill Road.

The administration centre and training facility was to go on Charles Hand Pak next to an MCG-sized oval, and a training ground on the Rosny Parklands side of the road built on a section of the former Rosny Golf course.

At the formal site announcement, Minister for Sport Nic Street said it was a major milestone in the creation of the Tasmanian team.

AFL High Performance Centre, Minister Nic Street, Tasmania Football Club board member Roger Curtis, footballer Andrew Phillips and City of Clarence Mayor Brendan Blomeley at Rosny. Picture: Chris Kidd

“It’s a massive step forward in the journey of the Tasmanian AFL club and a massive day for the Clarence municipality as well,” Mr Street said.

“We know how important the High Performance Centre is going to be for the success of the club and for player retention at our new AFL and AFLW teams.

AFL High Performance Centre, City of Clarence Mayor Brendan Blomeley and Minister Nic Street at Rosny. Picture: Chris Kidd

“It is a terrific opportunity for this club to establish itself in a high-visibility area in the community where a huge amount of traffic goes past, it’s close to the airport and it’s close to the city.”

An anti-HPC group has formed to scuttle the plan.

Clarence Council’s Notice of Public Meeting said: “A petition has been received by Council under Section 59 of the Local Government Act requesting Council hold a public meeting regarding the siting of the proposed AFL High Performance Centre in Charles Hand Park and Rosny Parkland and to discuss the concerns raised by the petition around community consultation.”

The meeting will be held at Citywide Baptist Church at 7pm on May 15.

On the social media site Yes AFL Team Yes Stadium, a notification asked the faithful to send council a clear message of support.

“As most may know, there is a Clarence City Council public meeting on the 15th of May. This came about because of the ‘NO Anti group’, who are against the Tasmania Football Club High Performance Centre being based on the site of Charles Hand Park and the old Rosny Park Golf Course.

“We are asking for as many of our members as possible to submit a written submission highlighting the benefits of a HPC at Rosny Park. We also need to get as many people along to the public meeting as possible to show our support.”