Macquarie Point vision: Housing development, cultural and arts precinct plans unveiled

Thousands of new homes, a tidal swimming pool and a light rail hub are part of “an alternative vision” for Mac Point by Richard Flanagan, Kate Warner and other influential Tasmanians — with no room for a footy stadium.

Macquarie Point vision group, Roland Browne, Sukey Johnson, Ben Bartl, Shamus Mulcahy, Greg Lehman, Richard Flanagan, Kate Warner and Kate Calwell. Picture: Chris Kidd

Thousands of homes, a new State Library, a swimming pool fed by the Hobart Rivulet, a truth and reconciliation park and a light rail hub are the highlights of a new plan for Macquarie Point.

But there is no room for a football stadium in the Macquarie Point Vision launched by former Governor Kate Warner, lawyer Roland Browne, Professor Greg Lehman, housing advocate Ben Bartl and award-winning author Richard Flanagan on Thursday.

Mr Flanagan said the Vision was a much better idea than anything to emerge out of state cabinet — which he likened to a “chimp enclosure”.

“Tasmania doesn’t have a stadium problem. Tasmania has a housing problem,” he said.

“Let’s dream something as marvellous and magnificent as our island to help Tasmanians rather than to cave into the AFL’s arrogant bullying, and a weak, spineless and isolated Premier, who won’t stand up.

“If that stadium gets built, you’ll have Gil McLachlan and Jeremy Rockliff and Luke Martin cozying up in the corporate box, raising their champagne glasses — but they’ll never raise their eyes to those poor Tasmanians up there, and over there in the Domain, that are in their wet sleeping bags and their collapsing tents as we speak.”

The proposed sustainable urban transport link.

The proposed wild swimming basin.

The proposal also includes a new home for the Australian Antarctic Division next to the docks, alongside $300m worth of new housing and a $100m Indigenous Cultural Centre.

The four- to five-storey timber apartment blocks would be a mix of public and private, and built from local timber, highlighting state-of-the-art laminate timber technology from northwest Tasmania.

Professor Warner described the plan as a fabulous vision for the site, which appropriately recognised Tasmania’s original inhabitants.

“I am wholeheartedly supportive of this inspiring and imaginative vision for a housing

development at Mac Point which incorporates so many exciting elements and at the same time responds to our needs,” she said.

“I applaud the fact that it has as its centrepiece, not a football stadium, but a Truth and

Reconciliation Park and a Tasmanian Indigenous Cultural and Heritage Centre — a place where their story can belong to Aboriginal people of lutruwita/trouwunna and not be told or misrepresented by others.”

Mr Browne said the vision was being sent to state and federal politicians.

“They will be lobbied as of today, they will have this plan in their inbox today,” he said.

“We are offering a wonderful, splendid urban renewal project for the site, no stadium because we don’t need a stadium here but a site that’s going to make Tasmanians and Hobartians proud.”

Vision of the new State Library.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has hinted at an announcement in the upcoming federal budget but has expressed more vocal enthusiasm for the urban renewal aspects of the Macquarie Point redevelopment.

Premier Jeremy Rockliff was not a fan.

“Rather than another vision, what Mac Point needs is real action now to finally activate the site and get things done, which is exactly what our Government is doing,” he said. .

The Mac Point urban renewal project will drive massive economic activity and thousands of jobs, plus secure the AFL team Tasmanians deserve.

We already have a plan, a business case, a cost-benefit analysis, and an ideal location – all we need now is the federal funding to make this project a reality.

Labor’s Dean Winter said the new plan was far superior to the goverrnment’s.

“The Liberal Government has had nearly ten years to come up with a plan for Mac Point that benefits Tasmanians.

“If they were going to develop something there they’d have done it by now.

“Yet the best they have come up with is a billion-dollar taxpayer funded stadium that we don’t need and can’t afford.”

The new plan also won support from independent MP Kristie Johnston.

“At last! A proposal for Macquarie Point that respects and enhances the site for all Tasmanians, rather than a white elephant stadium that a majority of Tasmanians clearly don’t want,” she said.

“This proposal puts the people of Tasmania first. Much needed homes, access to decent public transport, public open space, and a truth and reconciliation park that respects and recognises Tasmania’s Aboriginal community.

“This proposal offers light and joy – compare that to the soulless concrete stadium the big end of town wants.”

Macquarie Point vision group, Richard Flanagan, Ben Bartl and Shamus Mulcahy. Picture: Chris Kidd

Greens leader Cassy O’Connor also backed the plan.

“Macquarie Point belongs to the Tasmanian people, not the Liberals or the AFL,” she said.

“There’s no mandate for a billion-dollar stadium and very little public support.

“Tasmanians know we can do better for Macquarie Point.”

Labor’s Economic Development spokesman Mr Winter said the alternative Mac Point vision showed it was possible to use the site to address Tasmania’s housing issue.

“The site presents an opportunity to generate significant social and economic benefit for Tasmania – two things Jeremy Rockliff’s planned stadium will not do,” Mr Winter said.

“Jeremy Rockliff’s bad decision to abandon considered development in favour of a stadium will cost Tasmanians hundreds of millions of dollars in real terms, with the opportunity cost to be even higher.

“The Liberal Government has had nearly ten years to come up with a plan for Mac Point that benefits Tasmanians ... yet the best they have come up with is a billion-dollar taxpayer funded stadium that we don’t need and can’t afford.”

Check out the full plan at macquariepointvision.net.au