The $1.13 billion Macquarie Point stadium project is progressing towards a crucial parliamentary order on November 4.
Tasmanian Planning and Infrastructure Minister Kerry Vincent today said extensive behind-the-scenes work is underway ahead of the order being introduced to parliament.
“There is an extensive amount of work being done at the moment. A lot of conversation taking place and that will come to the fore over the next couple of weeks,” he said.
The government is pushing forward despite the Tasmanian Planning Commission recommending against the project, warning it would saddle the state with escalating debt reaching $1.8 billion within a decade.
Vincent said he found the commission’s report “quite interesting to read through”.
“It highlighted a lot of things that many individuals probably hadn’t thought about involved with the stadium and I thank them for their report,” he said.
“But it also highlighted a lot of opportunities that flow on from a stadium of this size.”
The minister said critics must recognise the broader economic benefits the stadium will bring.
“The stadium is a great project for Tasmania with ongoing benefits … for the whole economy, the hospitality industry, the flow-on effect through to sports medicine even,” he said.
When asked what would happen if parliament rejects the proposal, the minister was unequivocal.
“We are building a stadium,” he said.
The project needs support from independent members in the Upper House to pass.
Mr Vincent said the government has been briefing interested MPs.
“We’ve been happy to talk to any Upper House members that we should talk to or Lower House it doesn’t matter,” anybody who has shown interest in the briefings we’ve been able to participate with,” he said.
Labor Leader Josh Willie last week pledged his opposition party’s backing for the project.
“This is a once in a generation opportunity that can’t be missed,” he said. “It’s very clear to me that if we don’t proceed, we will lose the Tasmanian Football Club.”
Meanwhile, more than 6,000 people have signed a petition calling on the government to secure the AFL teams without building the stadium. Greens MLC Cassy O’Connor presented the petition to the Legislative Council last Wednesday.
