Private vehicles on bottom of ladder at Hobart’s AFL stadium, transport expert tells Commission

Pedestrian safety would be number one at a future Mac Point stadium, through event-day street closures and the exclusion of ride-share vehicles, a leading transport expert says. HIS VIEWS >>

Hobart's proposed ALF Stadium at Mac Point. Picture: Supplied

Pedestrian movement and safety would be prioritised at a future Mac Point stadium, through event-day closures of Hunter St and Evans St, and the temporary exclusion of ride-share vehicles after sporting matches and concerts, a leading transport expert has told the Tasmanian Planning Commission.

Appearing before a TPC panel currently assessing the multi-purpose stadium proposal, WSP technical director, Graeme Steverson, said it was vital the project’s design encouraged patrons to walk, bicycle, or bus to and from the ground, rather than rely on private vehicles.

Architect Leigh Woolley

“There will be some people who choose to drive to the stadium, and that’s OK,” he said.

“But no matter which travel option you get to take to the stadium, you’ll be a pedestrian at some stage.

“So it’s very important to limit and mitigate the impacts of this, and try to find solutions in the top three modes before you get to private vehicles.”

Mr Steverson gave evidence that the Mac Point stadium had been designed with a target of 60 per cent non-car access, and a more ambitious “stretch target” of 70 per cent of patrons eventually arriving by local and event buses, ferries, and active transport.

While every Olympics since Sydney had a goal of 100 per cent non-car access, the current Australian benchmark was the 80 per cent consistently achieved at Perth’s Optus Stadium, the transport expert said.

Mr Steverson gave evidence that one of the most important guiding principles of the Mac Point stadium’s transport strategy was the inclusiveness of accessibility to the future facility, which took into account varying crowd sizes, and the demographics associated with different events and acts.  

“Sport is one of the variables, but there will also be concerts here as well,” he said.

“You could have Andre Rieu concert which attracts an older demographic, or Pink or Taylor Swift who have much younger audiences.

“Or you could have AC/DC, which is right in the middle, and maybe catches a lot more people.

“So it’s very variable, but it’s making sure we need to have access for sustainable transport.”

Macquarie Point Stadium concept design. Picture: MPDC

As a new facility on an edge location in the Hobart CBD, the stadium would potentially have a significant impact on traffic through the capital, further highlighting the importance of Macquarie St and Davey St as arterial routes in and out of the city.

The “geo-blocking” of ride-share companies from a stadium’s vicinity immediately following major events was an option to help reduce traffic congestion, and one that had proven successful in cities interstate and overseas, Mr Steverson said.

Prominent Tasmanian architect and urban design consultant, Leigh Woolley, also gave evidence on Monday, telling the TPC panel the stadium’s proposed location and design threatened to ruin the natural amphitheatre of Sullivans Cove.

Mr Woolley said the size of the proposed facility threatened to obscure sight lines to natural headlands that defined Hobart’s most recognisable waterway.

“By the stadium’s scale and bulk, I suggest that the importance of the Domain headland is diminished and overwhelmed,” he said.

“And that is significant, because this is not the back of the city

“And cities are experienced in the round.

“Historically, there’s always been diversity of scale on Macquarie Point, but objects there have either been smaller than the stadium … or could be seen past. 

“The headlands could still be read, and their importance in providing containment to the cove still understood.”

The TPC public hearings, being held as part of the Project of State Significance process, continue.