TPC gives Mac Point planning lesson for stadium assessment
The Tasmanian Planning Commission has issued the Macquarie Point Development Corporation a pointed reminder of how the proposed Hobart AFL stadium will be assessed. What they say is missing.
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The Tasmanian Planning Commission has issued the Macquarie Point Development Corporation a pointed reminder of how the proposed Hobart AFL stadium will be assessed.
The state government has declared the $715m stadium a Project of State Significance, meaning it will be considered by the Commission rather than by the Hobart City Council.
The Commission’s executive Commissioner John Ramsay wrote to the Corporation on November 19 seeking further details so the panel can do its work.
The 12-page letter sought a wide range of information including about transport, planning and financial aspects of the proposal.
“The review of the reports that has been undertaken so far indicates that they do not address
all the matters on which information was sought under the guidelines,” the letter said.
The Planning Commission met with bureaucrats from Macquarie Point in late January.
Among the agenda items was “clarification/explanation of matters included in the further information request from the Commission”.
Mr Ramsay wrote again to the Corporation on January 22, again explaining how the legislation governing the assessment works.
“What is to be considered in an integrated assessment is a matter for the Commission, having regard to the provisions of the Act, its scope and purpose, the content of the POSS Order and the Ministerial Direction.
“The combined application of the above determines the extent of matters to be considered as
part of the integrated assessment.
“The effect of the Act is to put other planning instruments aside, in favour of the more general formulation of ‘environmental, social, economic and community issues’.”
A spokesman for Macquarie Point said the process was proceeding normally.
“It is normal for clarifications and further information to be sought as part of the assessment process for a project,” he said.
“This is particularly the case for the assessment of large and complex pieces of infrastructure such as the Macquarie Point Multipurpose Stadium.
“This request demonstrates that the Tasmanian Planning Commission is progressing with its assessment, and the assessment process remains on track to be completed in 12 months.
“As part of its assessment the TPC has sought both clarifications and requested additional information.
“The process enables further information to be provided throughout the assessment as required or as appropriate. The Corporation has addressed the majority of the requests received.”
Roland Browne from anti-stadium group Our Place, said the MPDC seemed to be “ignorant of its responsibilities as developer” under the Project of State Significance process.”
“This is extraordinary. It shows MPDC, and State Growth, are completely out of their depth with this project.
“What TPC has told them is what was obvious from the statutory scheme.
“It appears neither MPDC, nor State Growth, have looked at the scheme, or, if they have, they fail to understand it.”
The contract with the AFL requires the stadium for be 50 per cent complete by October 2027 and ready to host matches in the 2029 season.
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