Time frame for Derwent Entertainment Centre refurbishment down to the wire
A 42-day statutory timeline to approve a development application for the DEC could be expedited to pave the way for the state to join the NBL for 2021-22 season.
PREMIER Peter Gutwein is confident the process to approve upgrades on the Derwent Entertainment Centre can be expedited to ensure the refurbishment is complete in time for the 2021-22 NBL season.
The clock continues to tick for the State Government, Glenorchy City Council and NBL owner Larry Kestelman to finalise the deal, which will deliver the league’s 10th licence to Tasmania.
After agreeing on in principle agreements in February — under which the Government will purchase the DEC from the GCC for $8 million, spend $68.5 million refurbishing it and building a $20 million multi-court facility on the same site — discussions were put on hold due to the COVID-19 outbreak.
Talks have now resumed and are close to being signed off, with Mr Gutwein wanting a guarantee a Tasmanian team will re-enter the league for the 2021-22 season.
The DEC redevelopment was already facing a tight schedule to be completed by October next year, with Kestelman labelling an August start as the latest possible.
Another potential stumbling block is a 42-day statutory timeline for the Glenorchy Planning Authority to make sure the development application is in accordance with the Glenorchy Interim Planning Scheme.
However Mr Gutwein believes that time frame could be reduced given works will be carried out on an existing building.
“In terms of the Derwent Entertainment Centre, largely that is an upgrade of an existing facility,” he said.
“Therefore I would hope whatever planning requirements there are, and also whatever building requirements there are in terms of permits, they would be able to be dealt with more expeditiously than if that were a brand new build.
“Again, [we are] working with Mr Kestelman, who is very positive in terms of the opportunity for Tasmania, and I am very hopeful we have a team available for the following year.”
The funds for the refurbishment have been allocated as part of the Government’s infrastructure program, with Mr Gutwein declaring last month work is ready to begin.
The NBL declined to comment, but in a statement three weeks ago, Kestelman said confirmation on final details were a “matter of urgency”.
“We are excited about the opportunity for Tasmania to have its own team in the NBL and welcome the announcement by the Premier that the Tasmanian Government has committed $68.5 million for the upgrade of the Derwent Entertainment Centre, including $20 million for a four-court multisport community facility,” Mr Kestelman said.
“Starting work on the DEC as quickly as possible is critical if we are to meet our joint objective to have a team playing in Tasmania for the 2021-22 season.
“We will now wait for confirmation of final details of the agreement from the Government as a matter of urgency so we can deliver an NBL team for the people of Tasmania.”
