Tasmania could finally get a replacement ice rink after nearly four years without one, following a partnership announced between Ice Sports Tasmania (IST) and a local developer.
IST has signed a memorandum of understanding with the Young Group, which owns 5.5 hectares of land called Point.B in Bridgewater.
The deal also involves an interstate financial investor willing to help build and operate the facility.
The closure of the Glenorchy rink in 2022 has forced Tasmanian athletes to travel interstate to train and compete, creating financial and emotional strain for participants despite their continued success on national and international stages.
“Our athletes have absolutely trumped, they’re doing so well with podium finishes recently, but the finances behind that is very problematic and just not sustainable,” Holliday told Pulse.
Figure skaters and ice hockey players have been particularly affected.
Hockey teams have switched to inline skating to maintain momentum, while individual figure skaters face enormous costs travelling interstate for training and competitions.
A recent survey of the local ice sports community revealed devastating mental health impacts from the rink’s closure.
“What we know is that people’s psychological mental health has really been significantly impacted, for children and for adults,” Holliday said.
Holliday said the Bridgewater site already has approvals for a building large enough to house the proposed ice rink, potentially speeding up development.
However, one hurdle remains – the financial investor has requested a low-interest loan from the Tasmanian government as part of the broader package.
“There’s one piece of the puzzle missing,” Holliday said.
“We’re waiting on the outcomes of that, which we hope to hear very soon.”
A Tasmanian government spokesperson said they would “continue to work with Ice Sports Tasmania regarding this project”.
“As we have always said, this development will require the private sector to step in,” they said.
Holliday declined to provide a timeline, saying the community’s wellbeing was dependent on realistic expectations rather than “wishful thinking”.
“I think it just gives great potential to southern Tassie, Bridgewater, the area,” she said.
“For recreation skaters, as much as it does for the athletes.”
Trent Young, managing director of Young Group said he heard about the predicament of IST and reached out to them, saying he might have a suitable site.
“Our project, Point.B, that the site is on, has long held a vision that a big part of the site should be sport and recreation and those kind of activities, things like indoor rock climbing and indoor skate parks or paintball or whatever it might be,” he told Pulse.
“We think they’re an important part of the site’s vision but also important for the community and you know getting kids active and jobs and just general activity in the area.”
“We want people to be there out of hours on weekends overnight that sort of thing so there’s just constant activity so that the businesses can feed off each other but also you know eliminate anti-social behaviour and security risks.”
A gym currently operates out of Point.B with a future four buildings to be built around it to form a percent.
“We’ve got a building that’s approved that might be suitable for the ice sports but we’re just sort of looking into the details as to whether that would be suitable or if we need to work out a different location on the site,” he said.
