Premier Jeremy Rockliff has assured the public that the state government remains “very committed” to building a high-performance centre for the AFL’s new team, despite recent criticism from Labor.
Labor accused the government of being “missing in action” and “backpedalling” on the facility’s location in Clarence after the release of an elector poll on Friday.
The poll found 51.39% of residents support the construction of the proposed $70 million facility at the Rosny Parklands.
“There is still more work and due diligence to do, but with the greatest respect, no one in Tasmania could possibly believe that the Liberal government have vacated the field when it comes to AFL,” Rockliff said.
“I have been fighting for this team for many years. We’ve won the day and alongside it comes the associated infrastructure, including stadia and, indeed, the high-performance centre.”
Labor’s Luke Edmunds said the terms of the state’s deal with the AFL require an approved development application by the end of 2024 and completion of construction by the end of 2025.
“As if there aren’t enough concerns about the Liberals’ failure to deliver already, they’re now moving at a snail’s pace on the HPC,” he said on Saturday.
“It’s been almost eight months since the site was chosen and we still have no designs, no planning application and the Minister seems to be backpedalling to Kingborough.”
Rockliff said the next stage of the project was a “matter for the council and their decision-making process”.
“… We’re still doing more diligence and look forward to the high-performance centre being built when we work through those matters,” he said.
