Work at Macquarie Point to make way for the world’s largest timber-roofed stadium remains on track despite a “complex planning process.” That is according to Anne Beach, CEO of the Macquarie Point Development Corporation, who said the final planning assessment will be submitted to the Tasmanian Parliament for approval in late September.
“Shortly, we’ll expect to see a draft integrated assessment report from the Tasmanian Planning Commission,” Beach said. “It is a complex process. It’s an integrated assessment and a really broad assessment.”
The fully-domed stadium – which combines translucent ETFE pillows, 20mm timber laminate and glulam with metal cladding and steel bracing – is a non-negotiable for the state’s AFL team – the Tasmanian Devils.
“If we do not have this stadium, we don’t have a team,” according to Tasmania’s Infrastructure Minister Kerry Vincent. “This will create so many other opportunities for Tasmania besides just football..including the 3,000 (or more) jobs that will required in its construction.”
All going to plan Wood Central understands that early works on the new stadium will begin in late 2025, with major construction – including the awarding of the contracts for the enormous glulam timber structures – to start in early 2025 – with all works on the stadium wrapping up in 2029.
Vincent said market testing had drawn strong interest from investors, construction firms and equity partners: “Infrastructure is one of the key things we should be spending money on. We all know that housing, education, and health are vital to our everyday lives. But to have that future for employment, training, and families to stay in Hobart and Tasmania, we need Infrastructure.”
Last year, Wood Central revealed that the $160m roof will fully showcase Tasmanian glulam – a non-negotiable – inside the stadium’s roof: “The timber in the structure is expressed on the underside, and the volume created underneath will promote an awe-inspiring experience,” according to the 265-page Macquarie Point Stadium summary report submitted to the Tasmanian Planning Commission.
At the same time that Tasmania is building the $775 million Macquarie Point stadium, it is joint funding a $130 million upgrade to UTAS Stadium in Launceston. Upgrades include a new eastern stand and entry, upgrades to the centre-west stand, match facilities, and a scoreboard. According to plans advertised by the Launceston City Council, Wood Central understands the upgrades—to be “match ready” in 2027—show mass timber and concrete plates in terrace roofing and seating.
- To learn more about the stadium, including plans for the timber roof, click here for Wood Central’s exclusive report from late last year.
