Russell Hanson on why Macquarie Point Stadium would produce ‘nuggets of gold’ for Tasmanian economy
The man who penned a report claiming a mixed-use stadium in Hobart would deliver a “gold mine” for the economy has doubled down on Wednesday, saying the project will be the “greatest thing we ever do for Tasmania”.
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MACQUARIE Point Stadium will “ignite Tasmania” and be a winner for the state’s youth for generations, says the man who wrote the independent report into what economic boost could come from the multipurpose Hobart venue.
Russell Hanson, who calls himself a “true Tasmanian”, firmly believes Macquarie Point stadium would be an economic generator for the state for decades and a winner for everyone.
Tasmania’s AFL team must have the stadium to satisfy its licence agreement with the AFL.
The Hanson Report shows what could be achieved by the stadium as a multipurpose sport, entertainment and cultural hub, and it has the tick of approval of Australian economic genius Saul Eslake.
“The team, the stadium, it’s the greatest thing we will ever do for Tasmania,” Hanson said.
“Our youth, they’re going to be the biggest winners out of this – our villages, our towns, our cities, they are going to erupt.
“We’ve got the team, we should get the stadium and let’s ignite Tasmania.”
Well-known Hobart lawyer Jim Wilkinson, a former South Melbourne player and former President of the Tasmanian Legislative Council, said the report should persuade fence-sitters and objectors of the benefits of the future stadium, but not everyone.
“Some people have dug a trench and are not going to budge from it, it seems,” Mr Wilkinson said.
“But if you look at it fairly, and look at the evidence, and you’ve got to look at the best evidence, this report before us now shows it is going to be a financial bonanza for Tasmania.
“If I was a member of parliament, I would be looking at the best evidence and debating on that best evidence – and I would hope that’s what they will do.
“If they do, they will be doing exactly what has been done in every other state in Australia _ each state that’s had a stadium move close to the city has rubbed their hands with glee because it’s like gold nuggets falling from the sky.
“Have a look at Adelaide, Townsville, Melbourne, Perth – you speak to anyone in relation to those and it has been like gold nuggets to them.”
The stadium would not be a drain on Tasmania.
“It’s going to be the opposite – it’s going to be MONA on steroids, if you read the report and you read it fairly,” Mr Wilkinson said.
“It makes it easy for those who want to compare what has been accepted by both sides of parliament as being true and factual.
“And that is the PricewaterhouseCooper report of 2017 that says that Launceston is getting around $26m a year as a result of playing Hawthorn games at UTas Stadium.
“Using that exact same methodology and figures, we see Macquarie Point stadium having an economic benefit to Tasmania of $226m each year.
“That’s astounding and something that should be applauded and accepted by everybody as evidence of the true facts of what is going to happen if this stadium is built in Hobart.”
Wilkinson said the report also looked at the worst case scenario.
“It says what some people are going to say, what happens if there’s a blowout?” he said.
“Russell has looked at that as well, and even in the worst case _ and that was an exercise that Saul Eslake said was worthwhile doing _ anyone who thinks under the worse circumstances it’s going to be a debt to Tasmania, is wrong again.
“It is going to be an economic benefit even on the worse case scenario of over $54m over 20 years.
“The real figures we have got to look at are the numbers by PwC. They’ve been accepted by both sides of politics, and in that case you can see Launceston is $26m better off as a result of playing Hawthorn games, and Macquarie Point stadium will bring $226m each year.
“That says it all.”
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