Launceston City Council unable to reach decision on removal of elm tree for UTAS Stadium upgrade

A Tasmanian council has failed to reach a decision on whether a “significant” elm tree should be removed to make way for a major stadium redevelopment.

A general view of the 2023 AFL Round 06 match between the Hawthorn Hawks and the Adelaide Crows at UTAS Stadium on April 23, 2023 in Launceston, Australia. (Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

The Launceston City Council’s inability to decide whether a “significant” elm tree should be removed to make way for the redevelopment of the University of Tasmania Stadium is likely to cost the state government hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Spearheaded by the Department of State Growth, the project is being jointly funded by the Tasmanian and Commonwealth governments.

It’s designed to ensure that the stadium at York Park remains fit-for-purpose and is able to keep hosting elite sport, such as AFL and cricket.

The department is yet to lodge a planning application for the development and is first seeking approval to remove a Dutch elm tree at the site, which it says cannot remain there if the development is to proceed because it will impact the design of key facilities in the centre-western wing of the stadium.

Artist's impression of new externals at UTAS Stadium. The Department of State Growth is seeking approval to remove an old elm tree at York Park to make way for the development. Picture: Supplied

The 17m-tall tree is believed to be 70-80 years old and has a spread of 27 metres. It’s estimated to have been planted between 1940 and 1950.

Addressing a Launceston City Council meeting on September 5, Infrastructure Tasmania CEO Ben Goodsir said the development represented a “significant investment” in the Northern city but noted that it would be a “difficult build”.

“Cost escalations at the moment mean that any delay adds hundreds of thousands of dollars to the actual build,” he said.

Council officers recommended that the application to remove the tree be approved but councillors were evenly split on the matter and could not form a decision, leaving State Growth little choice but to apply to the Tasmanian Civil and Administrative Tribunal for a resolution.

The Launceston City Council was unable to reach a decision regarding whether or not an old elm tree should be removed to make way for the $130m redevelopment of the University of Tasmania Stadium. Picture: Supplied

Frank Rosol, a consulting arborist for the council, told the meeting that while he supported the proposal to revamp the stadium, it was “vexing to me” that it required the removal of the “significant and valuable” tree.

“We are not sure precisely what species of elm this is. It may well be that the elm is quite rare,” he said.

Cr Susie Cai said she had been contacted by “many” members of the public who were concerned about the prospect of the elm’s removal.

“I feel like once this tree is gone, it’ll be lost forever. But there are many ways to upgrade the stadium – we just haven’t found the right way yet,” she said.

A State Growth spokesman said the department was “considering its planning options” after the council failed to make a determination.

“The construction program is being reviewed in light of this,” he said.