Tasmanian government asks for more information on Macquarie Point Stadium 2.0 plan

The state government has fired another shot in the Macquarie Point makeover debate demanding more details on the alternative stadium proposal, including who will own and operate the multipurpose venue. What they want to know.

Concept drawings of a new design for a Macquarie Point Stadium by the Stadia Precinct Consortia led by Dean Coleman and Paul Lennon. Picture: SolutionsWon

The state government has fired another shot in the Macquarie Point makeover debate demanding more details on the alternative stadium proposal, including who will own and operate the multipurpose venue when complete in about 2029.

In an announcement on Sunday, the government gave Stadia Precinct Consortia until February 5, 2024, to answer five key concerns on its groundbreaking stadium design and its accompanying apartments, private hospital, hotels and convention centre, restaurants and retail space, and crucially, its social and affordable housing component.

Concept drawings of a new design for a Macquarie Point Stadium by the Stadia Precinct Consortia led by Dean Coleman and Paul Lennon. Picture: SolutionsWon

The areas of question for the government are:

> Investment: where will the money come from to build such a large project?

>Ownership: who gets the keys to the stadium when complete?

> Operation: who maintains and runs the venue when it hosts sport, concerts, entertainment and cultural events?

> Environmental impact: what impact will the build have on its surrounds?

> Cultural: how will Mac Point 2.0 enrich the state’s capital?

Addressing the “homework” should not be an issue for the project’s lead engineer, Stadia Precinct Consortia director Dean Coleman, who knows the plan’s finances and construction challenges inside out.

“The Tasmanian government has agreed to defer consideration of any other approaches around an alternative stadium until it has received our response,” Mr Coleman said.

“We understand, that as with any substantial commercial development, the government has concerns it could be exposed to financial risk and the Stadia Precinct Consortia is prepared to work closely with all stakeholders to allay those concerns.”

Coleman and fellow SPC director, former Premier Paul Lennon, fronted a Public Accounts Committee hearing at Parliament House on Friday, to outline their vision for a stadium as part of a $2.3bn urban redevelopment on Hobart’s waterfront.

$2.3 billion precinct-scale urban renewal project, including roofed AFL stadium, for Hobart. Stakeholder relations Paul Lennon and Managing Director of Stadia Precinct Consortia Dean Coleman at Macquarie Point. Picture: Chris Kidd

Committee members seemed warm to the idea but the government poured cold water on it later that day.

“The size and complexity of the Regatta Point proposal could expose the Tasmanian government to a range of significant risks, and does not include sufficient detail on a range of critical matters,” Premier Jeremy Rockliff said.

“As a result, the government is unable to support the proposal at this time.”

Mr Coleman is determined to satisfy the government’s concerns.

“At this stage, we feel we have sufficiently addressed government concerns on a range of issues, including the impact of stadium height on Hunter Street, the TSO and the Cenotaph, and the operational financials,” he said.

“We await the government’s public release of their responses to stakeholders on these same issues.

“Importantly, we all agree the priority remain on developing a multipurpose stadium at Macquarie Point as a condition of the establishment of Tasmanian AFL and AFLW teams.”