With construction of the Macquarie Point stadium beginning in the coming months a possibility, Eric Abetz has been appointed as the first “Minister for Macquarie Point Urban Renewal”.
The role was announced this week as part of a cabinet reshuffle by Premier Jeremy Rockliff.
Abetz said he was handed responsibility for the ambitious waterfront project late last year, but the new title makes it official.
“I really look forward to that ongoing challenge to ensure that we can deliver a renewal project [at Macquarie Point],” he said, adding it was an “industrial wasteland” and a “blot on the Hobart landscape”.
“This transformation will provide us with an iconic gateway to our capital city and I look forward to working hard with everybody to ensure that we can deliver that.”
Of the 35 MPs in parliament, 25 – from the Liberals, Labor and independent David O’Byrne – back the stadium.
The Greens, Shooters MP Carlo Di Falco and independents Craig Garland, Kristie Johnston, Peter George and George Razay remain opposed.
Abetz acknowledged “some opposition” to the project, but said the majority of MPs and, by extension, Tasmanians were on board.
“Out of the seven members elected in my electorate of Franklin, five of us, compared to two against, five of us are in favour of the stadium,” he said.
“And you will find similarly in Braddon, for example. There are six members dedicated to the stadium going ahead and one against.”
Special enabling legislation for the stadium was previously introduced by Abetz, but was automatically scrapped when parliament was dissolved ahead of the election.
It is now expected to be replaced by the original Project of State Significance process, which is being run by the Tasmanian Planning Commission and due for completion in September.
Abetz said debate over the project would be worked through in parliament.
“I look forward to achieving what will become an iconic gateway to our city and something that all Tasmanians will celebrate,” he said.
