Hole in one for City of Clarence if council welcomes Tasmania’s AFL high performance centre

A multimillion-dollar AFL high performance centre on a defunct golf course-turned-parkland could signal a hole in one for the Clarence City Council. Here’s why.

Rosny Golf Course's former pro-shop now abandoned by players. Picture James Bresnehan

A multimillion-dollar AFL high performance centre on a defunct golf course-turned-parkland could be a hole in one for the Clarence City Council as Tasmania’s AFL team searches for a training and administration base.

With an investment of up to $70m in the state-of-the-art centre, which includes an MCG-sized oval, a secondary oval and indoor offices and training facilities, the HPC shapes as a boon for the council that lands it.

The now defunct Rosny Golf Course is on 14.5 hectares of vacant land.

Rosny Golf Course's former pro-shop now abandoned by players. Picture James Bresnehan

Clarence mayor Brendan Blomeley said only a portion of it would be needed if an HPC was located there.

Rosny Golf Course, now a parkland, has 14.3 hectares of open space to potentially build the Tasmanian AFL team's high performance centre. Picture James Bresnehan

State Growth, which is conducting the search, met with council on Monday about the possibility of building the centre somewhere in the municipality.

“The state government has approached council to test the feasibility of the Rosny Parklands to be home of Tasmania’s AFL high performance centre,” Mr Blomeley said.

“We welcome discussions that see sporting growth and development within our city and like our neighbouring councils, we have been investigating options for suitable sites within our city.”

Clarence Mayor Brendan Blomeley says sites in his municipality are being considered as potential sites for the Tasmanian AFL team’s $70m high performance centre. Picture Blair Richards.

The benefits could be huge.

“I have an open mind at the moment, but clearly there are social and economic benefits that would flow,” Mr Blomeley said.

“The state government has committed at least $40m up to $70m, and the AFL $10m, so it’s a significant investment.

“As long as there is wide community access, which we are assured there will be, there will be significant benefits to the community.”

Blomeley said his council had an “open mind” on other potential sites within Clarence.

“We are working through that at the moment,” he said.

“We won’t offer a potential site to the state government without understanding what our community wants.

“If we go through community consultation, and the majority of the community are not supportive of having the AFL high performance centre in Clarence, or do not support any of the sites we might test with them, then council will not progress the project.

“We are in the early stages of identifying sites that not only meet the AFL’s requirements for a high performance centre but will also provide benefits to our community and be a good fit for Clarence in the long-term.”

Site options were presented to councillors to understand the potential for establishing the high performance centre in the City of Clarence.

Mr Blomeley said a report will be prepared for the next council meeting for councillors to vote on whether these options will be taken to the community for consultation.