Local construction firms and suppliers will be briefed on the Macquarie Point stadium project before a head contractor is chosen.
It is in a move designed to boost Tasmanian participation in the $1.13 billion build.
The Macquarie Point Development Corporation has confirmed it will hold an industry information day soon to give local businesses detailed information about work packages, material volumes and project timelines.
“We’re particularly targeting the local market,” Macquarie Point Development Corporation CEO Anne Beach told a parliamentary hearing on Wednesday.
The briefing will focus on specifics such as glazing and concrete volumes, and when different packages of work will be required, allowing firms to plan their supply capacity and workforce needs.
Beach said the session was aimed at subcontractors and small to medium enterprises rather than tier-one national builders, who are already engaged through a formal expression of interest process.
The corporation is currently running an EOI process for the main construction contract, with plans to shortlist two candidates who will then engage with local subcontractors.
Committee members raised concerns about protecting Tasmanian firms from being squeezed by larger contractors, particularly given the likely use of an interstate head contractor.
Liberal MP Roger Jaensch questioned whether local companies could “disproportionately bear the pressures” of a project this scale, especially when nested under much larger national or international joint venture partners.
Beach acknowledged the risk but said local participation would be essential to the project’s success.
“We will require local subcontractors to deliver the stadium. It just won’t work without it,” she said.
“The works that are required their capability the access to materials and people and skills it will require local participation.”
“What we’re assessing them around is how are they going to do that how are they going to onboard people, how will they be looking to provide opportunities for training and development.”
“They’ll have to set those out and they will become contract requirements.”
A ‘Tasmania First’ taskforce, including construction industry peaks, is also providing feedback on how to protect local firms based on experiences from other large-scale projects.
At peak construction, the project is expected to employ between 400 and 600 workers on site, according to evidence given at the hearing.
