Social and affordable housing development proposed at site of Tasmanian Hockey Centre

A proposal to build a social and affordable housing complex at the site of Tasmania’s premier hockey facility has sparked concerns from the sport’s peak body.

Concept design of proposed medium-density housing development at site of Tasmanian Hockey Centre, New Town. The land is owned by the Hobart City Council. Picture: Core Collective Architects

A proposal to build a social and affordable housing complex at the site of Tasmania’s premier hockey facility has sparked concerns from the sport’s peak body, which says the area is not suitable for residential development.

Housing Choices Tasmania and the Hobart Women’s Shelter want to build a medium-density housing complex for vulnerable people on council-owned land at New Town.

However, the site is leased by Hockey Tasmania and is home to the international-standard Tasmanian Hockey Centre, which hosts six clubs comprising more than 2500 members in total.

Aerial view of the Tasmanian Hockey Centre site at New Town. Picture: Core Collective Architects

But housing advocates say the proposal for 60 dwellings to be constructed where a carpark currently stands should be seriously considered by the Hobart City Council because it would help alleviate the housing crisis.

Hockey Tasmania’s lease expires in 2039 and the organisation has a master plan for the site, which includes an indoor sports centre, high performance centre, change rooms, and spectator seating.

But the council is developing its own draft master plan for the site and wants to determine whether part of the land could be rezoned for housing.

Site map of Tasmanian Hockey Centre, New Town. The area marked A has been identified as the potential location for a proposed medium-density housing development by Housing Choices and the Hobart Women's Shelter. Picture: Core Collective Architects

It has met resistance from Hockey Tasmania, which argues that residential accommodation would not be appropriate there due to the noise and light associated with the sport.

According to a feasibility study prepared by Core Collective Architects for Housing Choices Tasmania, the unit complex would be built where a car park currently stands at the front of the site on Bell St.

There is parking for about 250 cars in total on the site and more than 100 spaces are located in the area identified for housing.

Hobart Women’s Shelter CEO Janet Saunders said the not-for-profit was currently turning away 80 per cent of women and children seeking assistance and was therefore collaborating with Housing Choices to identify “underutilised land that could potentially be developed to create long-term housing solutions”.

“While the Hockey Tasmania site has been explored, there are no formal plans or decisions in place at this stage,” she said.

YIMBY Hobart, a housing advocacy group, has welcomed the proposal for medium-density residential development, with spokesman Lachlan Rule describing it as “exciting”.

YIMBY Hobart spokesman Lachlan Rule. Picture: Chris Kidd

“The hockey centre carpark is close to transport, shops, and services, and is exactly the sort of site we should be prioritising for housing,” he said.

“I hope Hockey Tasmania is willing to work with council to see the site used to its full potential.”

Hockey Tasmania chair Glenn Lucas said the organisation believed the council should “focus its resources on the approved purpose of the site, which is hockey”.

Concept design of proposed medium-density housing development at site of Tasmanian Hockey Centre, New Town. The land is owned by the Hobart City Council. Picture: Core Collective Architects

“While Hockey Tasmania stands ready to work with the council on the future recreational use of the land in question, including the broader Cornelian Bay precinct, we do not believe the Tasmanian Hockey Centre is suitable for a social and affordable housing development as proposed,” he said.

“Hockey is a noisy, all-of-year, all gender, all ages sport that would not sit well alongside such a housing development, particularly during the winter months when long hours of lighting are required for playing and training.”

Hobart Lord Mayor Anna Reynolds said no formal decisions had been made regarding the proposal, adding that the council had made car parks available for housing “over a number of years” and it was “possible to create a win/win outcome with improved carparking as well as housing above the carparking”.