The Tasmanian government has revealed new renders of the Macquarie Point stadium, the world’s largest timber‑roofed venue in planning, with Premier Jeremy Rockliff doubling down on the project — now projected to cost more than $1 billion — as being “built on a site that has been screaming out for development for decades.”
It comes as Rockliff’s government has mounted a strong defence of the $1.13 billion plan after the Tasmanian Planning Commission recommended against the project, citing doubts over economic viability, visual impacts on Hobart’s heritage waterfront and poor value for money.
In its submission released today, the government argued that the waterfront stadium would create thousands of jobs, secure an AFL licence for the Tasmania Devils, and generate sustained visitor and event revenue, adding, “It’s time to get on with the job.”
Securing the Devils’ licence is central to the government’s position. “Without the stadium, there is no team,” the submission states, warning that abandoning the project would inflict “immense” reputational damage on the state and its 211,000 club members — the largest membership base of any sporting club in Australia.
Economic modelling cited by the government forecasts between 1,510 and 3,229 jobs during construction and up to 276 ongoing operational roles. The estimates suggest that the venue will host more than 300 events per year and project an average annual operating surplus of $2 million. The model also anticipates that the stadium will draw approximately 104,000 interstate and overseas visitors and a further 184,000 intrastate visitors annually, with the Office of the Coordinator-General estimating a demand for an additional 254 hotel rooms to support visitor growth.
Design and engineering materials released with the submission details a hybrid timber roof that utilises Tasmanian-sourced glulam to line the underside, paired with metal deck cladding, steel rod bracing, and translucent ETFE pillows on the exterior. The clearspan structure has an internal clearance of approximately 49 metres, as determined using ball-tracking data, making it extremely unlikely for cricket balls to strike the roof. This allows the venue to stage Test-level cricket, as well as AFL, soccer, and rugby. The government says the stadium will provide an “awe‑inspiring experience”, while the timber form reduces perceived bulk from street level and preserves key harbour sightlines.
Cricket Tasmania CEO Dominic Baker said his organisation is “ploughing forward as if the stadium is happening,” whilst Macquarie Point Development Corporation CEO Anne Beach highlighted how the design retains view corridors to the Cenotaph, saying the scheme “creates these view spans where you can see these windows through the seating bowl up to the north so you get a full view span of the Cenotaph.” According to the government’s response, the project’s engineering has already drawn reported interest from overseas cricket bodies, including the English Cricket Board, which is now looking to a similar design to create a weather-proof venue at Old Trafford.
Wood Central understands that costs have risen from an initial estimate of $715 million to $1.13 billion, a jump the government attributes to design refinements, construction delays, and the addition of a client contingency fund. Additional infrastructure requirements include a $75.9 million northern access road and an optional 374‑space car park estimated at $97 million. The federal government has committed $240 million to the broader Macquarie Point precinct, while the AFL has pledged $15 million to the stadium and $360 million to Tasmanian football broadly.
Heritage concerns remain a central point of contention. Only the Hobart Railway Goods Shed is expected to be directly affected; the government proposes to relocate and integrate the shed into the stadium design, arguing that the development will “contribute to the city’s visual richness rather than diminishing its character.” The Tasmanian Planning Commission’s recommendation identified visual and heritage impacts as decisive factors; however, the government states that the commission’s modelling underplayed less tangible benefits, such as community pride, youth retention, and the growth of an elite sports industry in Tasmania.
The proposal now requires parliamentary approval and has been referred to the Parliamentary Standing Committee of Public Accounts for ongoing scrutiny of costs and timelines. The government frames remaining objections as “matters of opinion and choice,” asserting that technical challenges — including traffic, parking and noise — can be managed, leaving parliament to weigh the economic case against heritage and community concerns before a final decision is made.
- To learn more about the Macquarie Point Stadium, click here for Wood Central’s special feature.
