Premier Jeremy Rockliff ‘open-minded’ on Stadium 2.0, but more meat needs to be put on bones

The state government is open to considering an alternative plan for an AFL stadium on Hobart’s waterfront, but needs to see more detail from the proponents, Premier Jeremy Rockliff says.

$2.3 billion precinct-scale urban renewal project, including roofed AFL stadium, for Hobart. Stakeholder relations Paul Lennon and Managing Director of Stadia Precinct Consortia Dean Coleman at Macquarie Point. Picture: Chris Kidd

The state government is open to considering an alternative plan for an AFL stadium on Hobart’s waterfront but needs to see more detail from the proponents, Premier Jeremy Rockliff says.

An unsolicited “Mac Point 2.0” proposal to construct a roofed stadium on reclaimed land off Regatta Point – with 450 apartments built into its waterfront facade – has been floated by engineer Dean Coleman.

The state government’s current plan is for a $710m stadium to be built at Macquarie Point to fulfil the conditions of an AFL team licence.

Mr Rockliff said he was prepared to give the new plan due consideration but more detail was needed from the proponents.

“There’s a lot of work for the Stadium 2.0 proponents to bring forward in terms of finances and costs,” he said.

“I’m open-minded. We will of course scrutinise the Stadium 2.0 proposal.

“We want to ensure that we protect Tasmania’s interests. But as I say we’re open minded and we look forward to further detail being presented.

“We’ll work through those matters with our Macquarie Point precinct plan when it comes to the Project of State Significance and the environment and the economic and the social aspects of that planning approval.”

Mr Rockliff said the government would continue to advance its own stadium plan.

Labor leader Rebecca White said the government’s willingness to consider an alternative proposal was confusing.

Concept drawings of a new design for a Macquarie Point Stadium by the Stadia Precinct Consortia led by Dean Coleman and Paul Lennon. Picture: SolutionsWon

“I find it very hard to understand how the government is appearing to support another proponent’s development for a stadium when they’ve got their own pathway for approving their stadium,” she said.

“I think the requirement now is for the premier to be very clear about what he plans to do because if he does choose to get behind Stadium 2.0, he needs to renegotiate the contract with the AFL, he needs to halt the Projects of State Significance process through the parliament and he needs to be clear about what the planning pathway is for that project.”

Tasmanian Parliament, Premier Jeremy Rockliff. Picture: Chris Kidd

Greens MP Vica Bayley said the amount of information and consultation going on around the Stadium 2.0 proposal put the government’s plan in the shade.

“It has costings, it has consulted with stakeholders and indeed is starting a conversation with the community,” he said.

“We’re still deeply concerned about the $700m plus of public money that would need to go into it and indeed the use of public land and water, but clearly it shows that the Mac Point option – the government’s option — is woefully undercooked.”