Darklab director Leigh Carmichael calls on Tasmanian government to establish light rail service for stadium

Leigh Carmichael says the Mona offshoot’s support for the Macquarie Point stadium is “contingent” on the establishment of a light rail service.

Leigh Carmichael, director of Darklab. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

Darklab director, Leigh Carmichael, says the Mona offshoot’s support for the Macquarie Point stadium project hinges on the state government establishing a light rail service.

Mr Carmichael, who was the lead designer of the Mona vision for Macquarie Point, has been a prominent backer of the stadium – but he says appropriate transportation and visitor infrastructure is needed before Darklab will provide full-throated support for the plan.

In a Talking Point in Tuesday’s Mercury, Mr Carmichael says the government must also honour its commitment for a Truth and Reconciliation Park at Mac Point.

“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,” he writes.

Leigh Carmichael, director of Darklab. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

Mr Carmichael said developing the light rail transport corridor to the northern suburbs 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,” he said.

The Darklab boss called on the government to “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”.

In a pointed comment aimed at the stadium’s detractors, Mr Carmichael said Darklab didn’t “really understand the outrage” over the project.

“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,” he said.

The government will seek to declare the $715m stadium – seen as a prerequisite for a Tasmanian AFL team – as a Project of State Significance, which would require the parliament to vote on the matter.

It comes after two former Liberal MPs, John Tucker and Lara Alexander, defected from the government over concerns around a perceived lack of transparency relating to the project.