The Hobart City Council will hold a special meeting in the coming days to vote on whether or not to formally oppose state government legislation designed to fast-track the Macquarie Point stadium project.
The meeting, set for Wednesday evening, has just one item on the agenda: backing a submission that strongly objects to the Macquarie Point Planning Permit Bill 2025.
In its submission, the council says it “does not support the multipurpose stadium being built at this location, as the negative impacts outweigh the positive benefits”.
That is despite the council’s own economic report from April, which found the stadium would deliver “significant economic benefits”, including $178.9 million annually once operational and 813 full-time equivalent jobs.
Councillors voted in late April to officially oppose the entire project, after softening their original submission over concerns the initial draft appeared too supportive of the development.
Their latest submission outlines a number of concerns about the waterfront stadium, including “significant damage” to heritage sites like the Hunter Street precinct and the Cenotaph.
It also argues the prime waterfront site represents a “lost opportunity” for better use, with the planned stadium access road “cutting off community access to the river”.
“The city expresses its deep disappointment with the state government’s handling of the stadium proposal and its disregard for the Tasmanian Planning System,” the submission states.
Council officers are particularly concerned about legislative clauses that would exempt the project from standard fees and charges, resulting in “lost revenue” for ratepayers. The council is already seeking “fair compensation” should the project proceed.
Minister Eric Abetz repeatedly cited the council’s own economic findings during parliamentary debate this week. He told Pulse on Thursday the stadium would be “transformational” for Tasmania.
“Even the Lord Mayor, who is a green, had an economic survey undertaken, which told her that within the Hobart City Council boundary alone, there would be a stimulus of $179 million per annum, recurring each and every year,” Abetz said.
“And that’s only for the Hobart City Council area. Then you’ve got Glenorchy and Kingborough and Clarence councils, where there will be a spin-off as well. Huge dividends will come to our state for a relatively small investment.”
Hobart ratepayers have already spent $170,721 on consultants to review the project, the council says, with more costs likely if the assessment process continues.
Councillors will vote on the submission on Wednesday night, but with a snap state election looming, the future of the stadium precinct remains up in the air.
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