The AFL’s CEO has given a glowing endorsement of the proposed multi-purpose Macquarie Point Stadium, calling it “incredible” for the Tasmania Devils and “additive” for Hobart and the entire state.
Andrew Dillon visited the stadium site on the Hobart waterfront last week and reportedly viewed the updated concept designs, which are expected to be made public in the coming days.
“To be able to sit there, you can get a bit of an idea of what it might look like and … to be able to walk from the CBD down in a couple of minutes … sort of reminds me of Adelaide Oval, except it’s probably a lot closer … it’s got a little bit of the best of all of our stadia in terms of the position,” he told SEN Hobart.
“We’re really excited about the team and about the stadium.”
The stadium is a key requirement for the AFL to grant the Devils a full licence, something Dillon says he is confident the club can achieve.
“There’s a process that’s in place now, but there’s a power of work that’s going on in relation to design at the moment,” he said.
“I’m really looking forward to seeing how that comes out and then the POSS process will play itself out.”
Dillon also addressed criticism that Tasmania already has a ‘perfectly good stadium’ at Blundstone Arena.
“Our AFL fans and the fans of the Tassie Devils and the fans of our AFL clubs that’ll be coming down here … the stadia that they’re used to going to like the MCG and Marvel, like Optus Stadium like Adelaide Oval, these are stadia that are some of the best in the world,” he said.
“Yes, there’s a great heritage and history with Bellerive or Blundstone, but what we need for the Tassie Devils to come in and be successful and I think what Hobart and Tassie needs is a stadium that’s state-of-the-art, uniquely Tasmanian.”
He said a modern stadium would also allow Hobart to host major events and concerts.
“When you have a stadium like that, a city the size of Hobart, a state the size of Tasmania, you want to be able to attract the big events,” he said.
“You don’t want to have to always go over the mainland if you want to see a concert and I think that’s going to be really important for the stadium as well and that’s what that will bring to Hobart and Tasmania.”
Opponents of the stadium remain determined to see the project scrapped, with The Greens planning to introduce legislation at the request of RSL Tasmania to protect the heritage values of the nearby Cenotaph.
“This sacred ground is cherished by veterans and the wider community. It needs safeguarding from inappropriate development,” Greens MP Vica Bayley said.
“The Project of State Significance (POSS) assessment process overrides all existing planning provisions, leaving the Cenotaph unprotected and the future of important values entirely to the discretion of a five person assessment panel and, ultimately, both Houses of Tasmania’s parliament.”
“This is an unacceptable situation. Drafting and consultation on the Greens’ Cenotaph protection bill will occur over the coming months.”
The state government will chip in $375 million for the $715 million project, the federal government $240 million and the AFL $15 million, with private sources to make up the remaining $85 million.
