Our Place has proposed an alternative, stadium-free vision for Macquarie Point

The group proposing a stadium-free vision for Macquarie Point have unveiled an artist’s impression to show the stadium as a blight on Hobart’s famous waterfront, but the Premier has revealed the “real” proposed outline. SEE THE PICTURE >>

Anti-stadium group Our Place have enlisted architect Shamus Mulcahy to create an artist's impression of the Macquarie Point stadium, using the dimensions and height that have been made publicly available by the government

The group proposing a stadium-free vision for Macquarie Point have unveiled an artist’s impression to show the stadium as a blight on Hobart’s famous waterfront.

The image based on the government’s measurements will be used in a month-long billboard campaign in North Hobart and Glenorchy.

However Premier Jeremy Rockliff has labelled the image a “scare tactic” and has revealed the “real” stadium outline from the waterfront.

Premier Jeremy Rockliff shared the “real” stadium impact from the waterfront of the proposed at Macquarie Point.

“Don’t be fooled by the blockers, as dodgy as some of their efforts may be,” Mr Rockliff posted to his social media.

“We’re still working on the designs for Mac Point, but here’s the real stadium outline from waterfront.

“I’m so proud to see everyday Tasmanians standing up and calling out this nonsense.”

Our Place enlisted former president of the Tasmanian Chapter of the Australian Institute of Architects Shamus Mulcahy to create the digitally-rendered image.

The image shows the stadium looming over Hunter Street.

In a professional opinion released with the image, Mr Mulcahy said the image showed what a 40m high, 240m long stadium would look like when viewed from Victoria Dock near Mures.

“The visual impact from many other parts of Hobart will be significantly worse with the stadium more dominant in viewlines,” he said.

Mr Mulcahy said a stadium would only just fit the site, and would leave no meaningful space for any of the precinct projects the Tasmanian government has said will be built on the site and the federal government says it is funding.

A neutral concrete colour was chosen for the image in the absence of any detailed design from the government.

“The government in its documents uses the Melbourne Marvel (Docklands) Stadium as its key reference. If the final stadium were to resemble Marvel Stadium in its finishes and styling the visual impact on Sullivans Cove would be considerably worse than this render,” Mr Mulcahy said.

Celebrated architect Robert Morris-Nunn, who designed the Henry Jones and Mac 1 hotels on Hunter St, said the image showed the stadium would be a “travesty”.

“Hobart’s Sullivans Cove is the epicentre of Hobart’s historic precinct and everything that is designed within it has to follow strict guidelines, especially with regards to building height and overall form. It’s therefore an absolute complete travesty when the massive bulk of the new stadium is able to intrude so grossly into a very sensitive area that everyone else is working hard to respect,” Professor Morris-Nunn said.

Richard Flanagan author who was the MC for the Stop the Stadium rally on parliament lawns Hobart. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

Author Richard Flanagan said the image would allow Tasmanians to judge whether they thought inner city Hobart was the right site for a stadium.

“Jeremy Rockliff promised the Sydney Opera House but instead he’s going to build the Berlin Wall,” Flanagan said.

In state parliament Greens leader Cassy O’Connor asked Premier Jeremy Rockliff to come clean over the stadium design, saying the stadium would be double the height of Hunter St’s iconic buildings.

Mr Rockliff said anti-stadium campaigners were using scare tactics.

He said the stadium was yet to be designed, with the government working towards an iconic development of which Tasmanians could be proud.

“We are just at the very beginning of a process,” Mr Rockliff said.

Our Place’s alternative vision of Macquarie Point includes 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