Two companies will be shortlisted within days to progress to the tender stage for the construction of Tasmania’s new multi-purpose stadium at Macquarie Point.
Macquarie Point Development Corporation CEO Anne Beach said the expression of interest (EOI) process, which ran from January to March, is nearing completion.
“We received more than two submissions,” Beach said on Wednesday morning, refusing to reveal exactly how many firms had expressed interest in winning the contract.
Two preferred bidders are expected to be named in the next week, ahead of a detailed tender phase set to run for about 18 to 19 weeks.
Beach said the EOI stage focused on testing the capability of prospective builders rather than pricing.
“We’re looking at their experience of their team, their entity, their financial capacity. This is a large build,” she said.
Shortlisted bidders will be given access to a data room and up to five interactive workshops with the design team to develop a construction program and pricing.
The project estimate remains at $1.13 billion. Beach said no significant cost pressures had emerged, despite rising fuel prices linked to the Middle East conflict.
“They’re not indicating any material issues with supply chains,” she said.
While acknowledging the conflict posed a risk, Beach said contingencies were built into the budget to manage potential escalation.
She said the nearby port could be used as an alternative to road transport for large materials.
Treasurer Eric Abetz said the master plan launch marked a major step for the broader precinct, which will include commercial and residential developments alongside the stadium.
Beach said the government would prepare the site and deliver public spaces, while commercial components – including housing – would be taken to market through a formal procurement process.
“We’re working through a process where we’ll go through an expression of interest and then a request for proposal,” she said.
“But that will happen after we’ve updated the planning scheme to make sure there’s certainty before we start that process.”
Market sounding has already attracted developer interest, with feasibility work benchmarked against projects in Melbourne and Sydney.
