‘Destroy and desecrate’ RSL slams stadium height over sacred Cenotaph

The war of words between the RSL and government continues over the proposed Macquarie Point stadium. Read the latest.

CEO of RSL Tasmania John Hardy at Hobart Cenotaph pointing out the lines of sight that will be interrupted by the planned Stadium. Picture: Linda Higginson.

The RSL’s view that the Macquarie Point stadium will be just half a metre lower in height than the Tasman Bridge and will “destroy and desecrate” sightlines from the Hobart Cenotaph has been strongly rejected by the government and development corporation.

In a letter to Premier Jeremy Rockliff, RSL CEO John Hardy said the Cenotaph was purposely built in 1925 for its important site lines which he said would be blocked “because of the height and bulk of the stadium”.

“The RSL has been disrespected and misled at every turn, be that by State growth, MPDC or Cox Architecture, with the former telling us it would be no more than 40m high at our congress in 2023 and the latter stating only six weeks ago in a meeting with us that it would be six stories,” he wrote.

CEO of RSL Tasmania John Hardy at Hobart Cenotaph. Picture: Linda Higginson.

“Premier Sir, the very essence of the Cenotaph is its sightlines, to destroy these sightlines is to desecrate, humiliate and play little more than lip service to our sacred place.”

Mr Hardy said the Cenotaph was 22m above sea level and the stadium would be 59.5m above sea level and just 0.5m lower than the Tasman Bridge.

He said the RSL was told last year the stadium would be 40m and it was now 54m.

But Macquarie Point Development Corporation CEO Anne Beach disputed the RSL’s figures.

She said the RSL was briefed on July 4 and advised that “the highest point of the dome is 51m (which is 54 metres above sea level) – not 59.5 metres as has been suggested”.

“The five sight lines that transact through the site were also discussed and the RSL was advised that only two of these are partially impacted.

“The location of the stadium has been carefully selected so the sightlines run on each side of the structure, rather than through the middle of the stadium.

“The Macquarie Point Stadium site will never impact views from the Cenotaph to the setting or rising sun, views up and down the Derwent River or across to the Eastern Shore.”

Sport and Events Minister Nic Street said the stadium had been “carefully designed and informed by the surrounding areas”, including keeping the outer-edges low-profiled and on a similar scale to buildings in Evans Street.

“We’ve carefully selected a transparent roof covering and minimal supporting structure to specifically reduce impact on views to and from the Cenotaph, as well as having designed the seating bowl to create new views to key landmarks including the mountain and the Cenotaph from within the stadium,” he said.

Mr Hardy conceded some veterans supported the stadium and said “there will be different opinions everywhere”.

He urged the government to “compromise” and move its proposed stadium another 400m.

‘We’re fighting this because we believe it’s the right thing to do.

“No development should be permitted that obscures the Cenotaph from these sight lines which have been rightly protected by the Sullivans Cove planning scheme for decades.”