More than two-thirds of Tasmanians voted in favour of Macquarie Point – the proposal that would see the world’s largest timber-roofed stadium built on the Hobart waterfront; however, despite Premier Jeremy Rockliff receiving a 3% swing towards the incumbent government, the $945m stadium is now likely to be subject to a long, drawn-out approval process.
That is according to the Tasmanian Greens Leader, Rosalie Woodruff, and the flurry of cross-benchers re-elected following the snap election results over the weekend. The project, which is a condition for the Tassie Devils AFL team, is supported by both the Liberals and Labor, but opposed by the Greens, as well as Independents Craig Garland and Kristie Johnstone, who both supported the no-confidence motion leading to the election, and another independent, Peter George.
Today, Rockliff noted that the two major parties’ support of the proposal meant that pro-stadium candidates would likely make up 24 or 25 seats in the 34-seat lower house: “What the vote said is that two-thirds of Tasmanians voted for pro-Tassie Devils and pro-stadium candidates,” the Premier said. Wood Central understands that the new parliament will be very similar to the previous one, which included 14 Liberals, 10 Labour MPs, five Greens, five independents, and a member of the Jacqui Lambie Network.
Rockliff is pushing for a fast-tracked ‘design and construct’ model
In May, Wood Central reported that the government was pushing for Eric Abetz, the Tasmanian Business, Industry, Resources and Transport Minister, to be given special powers to fast-track the stadium, which includes a $160m domed roof made from ETFE pillows, mixed with a steel and glulam supporting structure, which in effect would bypass the established approval process. “Feedback from the market sounding process is crucial in understanding how to activate the precinct in a way that unlocks decades of economic investment, jobs and opportunities,” according to Abetz, who said the project will be delivered using a ‘design and construct’ construction process. “The decision to prioritise the delivery of the multipurpose stadium through a design and construct pathway provides certainty and confidence in the future of the precinct and the Tasmania Devils AFL club.”
Earlier this month, Wood Central reported that the new stadium was set to host more than 330 year-long events. That is according to James Avery, CEO of Stadiums Tasmania, who spoke to the TPC public hearings in Hobart earlier this month. According to Avery, the stadium, has strong business fundementals: “We’re in ongoing discussions … to ensure that we’ve got a strong pipeline of content and events coming in, and our obligation, very clearly, is to maximise the number of events and content and activation year-round,” Avery told the panel. “(Too) sweat the asset, if you like.“
- Is it possible to build a stadium out of timber? In Wood Central’s special feature, Professor Greg Nolan looks at the potential to make a timber-rich Macquarie Point stadium.
