Hobart stadium: Master Builders Tas, Tourism Industry Council on Macquarie Point unity ticket

Tasmania’s future Macquarie Point stadium would be a “jobs factory and skills incubator”, would fill cafes and pubs to the brim, and draw punters into the CBD, industry chiefs say.

Tasmania’s new stadium and urban renewal project at Macquarie Point will provide decades of benefits to the state’s building and tourism sectors, their respective chiefs say.

Speaking at Macquarie Point on Saturday afternoon, Master Builders Tasmania chief executive Matthew Pollock said that the project would be a “jobs factory and skills incubator” for his industry.

“This project will help us build capacity in the workforce. It will attract more workers into the industry and give businesses confidence to invest in more people,” Mr Pollock said.

“There are about 1600 workers we expect this project to support, 400 of which will be apprentices. That’s 400 young Tasmanians that will have the opportunity to work on a world-class facility.”

Tourism Industry Council Tasmania chief executive Luke Martin with Master Builders Tasmania chief executive Matthew Pollock at Hobart's Macquarie Point. Picture: Alex Treacy

Tourism Industry Council Tasmania chief executive Luke Martin hailed the announcement as the “most significant day for the southern Tasmanian visitor economy since the opening of Mona”.

Mr Martin said arguments that the money would be better spent on health and housing are valid but misguided.

“You can never have enough money to invest in health and housing, but you also need to invest in infrastructure that allows our economy to grow,” he said.

The stadium’s inner-city location was a key selling point, Mr Martin said.

Master Builders Tasmania chief executive Matthew Pollock at Hobart's Macquarie Point. Picture: Alex Treacy

“It has the capacity to draw people to the city and makes sure they don’t just go to a game, jump in the car and drive home,” he said.

“Hobart on a Sunday afternoon can be a pretty quiet place... (but imagine) a Sunday afternoon twilight game with 23,000 people wandering around, going to our restaurants, creating an energy in our city.”

Tasmanian Hospitality Association chief executive Steve Old said the funding was “bigger than just football”.

“The injection it will provide into the hospitality industry will be arguably greater than we have ever seen,” he said.

“AFL fans are among the most passionate in Australia and we have seen with both Hawthorn and North Melbourne playing games in the state, their supporters will travel to watch matches at UTAS stadium and Blundstone Arena.

“This fills our cafes, our restaurants, our pubs and our hotels.

Tourism Industry Council Tasmania chief executive Luke Martin at Hobart's Macquarie Point. Picture: Alex Treacy

“The economic impact it will unlock is a golden opportunity to further elevate Tasmania, our people, our produce and our destinations which are already so highly regarded and globally recognised.”

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, speaking in Hobart Saturday morning to announce the funding said the wider Macquarie Point redevelopment, including the stadium, was expected to create a total of 4200 jobs during construction.

Housing would be a “major focus” of the precinct, he said.

“Crown land at Regatta Point will be developed through a private-public partnership, including affordable housing,” he said.

“Why shouldn’t someone in social or affordable housing have access to this unbelievable view right here in this great city of Hobart?”

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese in Hobart in relation to funding for a stadium at Macquarie Point. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

There were no details about how much housing would be provided.

Federal Infrastructure Minister Catherine King said the federal government would work to engage the RSL, Hobart City Council and First Nations people.

“There is an extraordinary opportunity to build a lasting legacy for the people of Hobart but really for the entire country,” she said.

Premier Jeremy Rockliff reflected on the 1990s when young people were leaving Tasmania in droves to seek jobs interstate.

“We now have young people coming to our shores, embracing opportunity,” he said.

“That’s exactly why I’ve worked so hard on this project, securing a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for this project and indeed an AFL team and working with the federal government to ensure that every single Tasmanian has the best opportunity to live here, to work here and to raise a family here.”