Parliamentary inquiry into Macquarie Point stadium proposal attracts hundreds of submissions

A parliamentary inquiry into the proposed Macquarie Point stadium has generated an enormous level of public interest, with the number of public submissions revealed to be opposed to the project. WHAT’S NEXT >>

Independent MLC, Ruth Forrest. Picture: Zak Simmonds

A parliamentary inquiry into the Tasmanian government’s proposal to build a multipurpose stadium at Macquarie Point has attracted a near-record number of submissions, with public hearings set to begin next month.

The Parliamentary Standing Committee of Public Accounts, chaired by independent Murchison MLC Ruth Forrest, is looking at the feasibility planning for the prospective stadium, which is considered to be a prerequisite for Tasmania to be granted an AFL team.

The inquiry has received a massive 926 public submissions, coming close to matching the 1162 submissions received by a 1998 parliamentary inquiry into voluntary assisted dying, believed to be the record.

Among the organisations that submitted to the stadium inquiry were Cricket Australia, the Tasmanian Conservation Trust and Master Builders Tasmania.

Ms Forrest said the volume of submissions demonstrated “the significant amount of public interest in this [issue]”.

“I think there are many questions that need answering and it’ll be good to get some of those answers out in the public arena,” she said.

“That’s a really important part of an inquiry like this.”

Ms Forrest said the “vast majority” of submissions were opposed to the stadium.

Designs of what Hobart's new AFL stadium at Macquarie Point could look like. Images supplied by AFL

“I think it’s really important that we shine a light on the process issues here,” she said.

“Who made the decision that [a new stadium] had to be a condition [of a Tasmanian AFL team] … and … who was consulted around [the selection of the Macquarie Point site] after the number of master plans that had already been agreed to?”

The Tasmanian government’s own submission says the stadium would “strengthen Tasmania’s economy, delivering $2.2 billion in economic activity over 25 years providing more opportunity to invest in schools, hospitals, roads, social housing and future critical infrastructure projects”.

The inquiry will holds hearings in Launceston and Hobart in March and April.