Latest news with #TasmanianPlanningCommission
ABC News
a day ago
- Politics
- ABC News
Delayed decision on Macquarie Point stadium reopens door for planning commission process
A revival of the planning process under which the Macquarie Point stadium was previously being assessed could be on the cards, as the state's planning commission prepares to hand down its final report on the contentious project. Hobart's proposed AFL stadium was initially being assessed by the Tasmanian Planning Commission under the Project of State Significance (PoSS) process, which would have required both houses of Tasmania's parliament to give it the green light. But the Liberal government, wary of delays, drafted special enabling legislation earlier this year in a bid to circumvent that process and hasten the stadium's approval. Now, in a turn of events, the fast-track legislation could take a back seat to the original, slower PoSS process. The timing of last week's snap state election meant a vote this month on the stadium by the upper and lower houses will not happen. Independent MLC Bec Thomas said the delayed vote was a blessing in disguise. "I think and I hope the PoSS process will be able to be finalised before the government even has the opportunity to be tabling enabling legislation," Ms Thomas said. "Regardless of whichever path, whoever forms government, my hope is we will have the information gathered through the PoSS process [available to us]. The planning commission is due to hand down its final report on September 17, potentially in the same week the new parliament would sit for the first time, and likely before a new government has the chance to re-table any special enabling legislation. That report will contain a potential recommendation or non-recommendation that the project proceed, and its contents will highly likely influence all parliamentarians voting on the project. The timing of the report and the resumption of parliament may see the Liberals, who could be returned to govern in minority, forced to re-embrace the planning process they had attempted to reject only weeks ago. During the election campaign, about 30 stakeholders were allowed to present evidence to the planning commission panel assessing the stadium. The fortnight-long commission hearings allowed the Macquarie Point Development Corporation (MPDC) and other stadium stakeholders, and a group opposing the stadium, to state their case directly to the planning commission panel. Those hearings also allowed several outstanding issues with the project to be remedied, with some stakeholders believing the two-week process strengthened the case for the build. On Friday, the Macquarie Point team submitted 38 pages of "proposed conditions" that the project would be subject to if granted planning approval. Those conditions were devised in response to issues raised by the planning commission in a blistering draft report issued in March, and to evidence presented at the recent hearings. They are similar to the ones attached to the government's special legislation, but are considered more stringent. Importantly, it also lists the Hobart City Council, Environmental Protection Agency, TasWater, and the director of Tasmania Parks and Wildlife Service as "relevant regulators" rather than a government minister, which was a key criticism of the special legislation. Labor has said it will continue to back the stadium and the special legislation, rather than entertain a pivot back to the PoSS process. There is a chance the party could still govern — with the support of the Greens and independent MPs — despite winning just 10 of 35 seats at Saturday's election. "We're not planning on making any changes to the current process" a spokesperson told the ABC. In any event, it is unlikely that the special legislation would be scrapped entirely. A possible scenario is that new legislation may be tabled that combines elements of the special legislation, findings from the planning commission, and proposed conditions crafted as part of the PoSS process by the MPDC. The legislation would pass the lower house with the support of the Liberal and Labor parties, and independent MP David O'Byrne. Upper house independents will then decide the stadium's fate, now armed with the full findings of the Tasmanian Planning Commission. "For the enabling legislation, I don't see the case for that stacking up anymore," Huon MLC Dean Harris told ABC's Mornings. "To be able to have informed decisions, that [PoSS] report would be good to have."
Mercury
25-06-2025
- Politics
- Mercury
Macquarie Point stadium public hearings: Project could become Hobart's ‘Opera House'
The proposed multipurpose stadium at Macquarie Point promises to be an architectural beacon for Hobart which will eventually become the 'city's Opera House', the Tasmanian Planning Commission has heard. Presenting the state government's submission on the opening day of public hearings into the project in Hobart on Wednesday, barrister Chris Townsend KC said he was confident Tasmanians would consider the new stadium as appropriate in location and scale once it became embedded in the capital's social and economic life. Describing the government's proposal as 'bold and visionary', Mr Townsend predicted the stadium would eventually be adopted to such a degree that it would be given a nickname by proud locals. 'Where you have a building that you see when you're driving across the bridge, or you're driving home … and you remember the last time you took the kids to a game, or the times you had there with your mum and dad, these buildings become different in the way you appreciate them,' Mr Townsend told the TPC panel. The public hearings, which are a required part of the TPC's independent assessment of the stadium under Project of State Significance legislation, are being held across multiple dates in June and July. After making two unsuccessful attempts to have the hearings postponed earlier this month, the Tasmanian government made the decision to appear before the TPC panel, which is being chaired by Paul Turner SC. Speaking to a 94-page submission made by the proponent, Mr Townsend said it was a 'rare privilege' to be involved in a proposal that existed outside established planning frameworks, and which had such significant potential impacts on future generations. The written submission, published on the TPC website, states an ambition for the stadium to be more than a utilitarian venue for Tasmania. 'It is designed to have a point of difference in a national setting, with a striking design and setting, and with a domed form suggestive of excitement and protection of the activities carried out within, and a spectacular backdrop to the city's night-life and lights,' the submission reads. 'The design is informed by the site's history, character, and cultural heritage. This approach ensures that the development is both distinctive and contextually appropriate, while aspiring to a confident visual statement. 'For the assessment of the project, the TPC's intellectual task is to apply the best principles to considering whether the significant opportunity can be realised, based on its expertise and special knowledge, and not based on a typical town planning assessment based on established planning controls and policies.' Other representations listed to address the TPC panel over coming days include the Tourism Industry Council of Tasmania, Federal Group, Business Events Tasmania, Stadiums Tasmania, Glebe Residents' Association, Cricket Australia and Cricket Tasmania, and Our Place – Hobart. The construction of a roofed stadium at Macquarie Point is one of the conditions of the deal with the AFL to add Tasmanian teams to both its men's and women's competitions. The Project of State Significance process is continuing despite government plans to passing so-called enabling legislation which would halt the TPC's independent assessment. On the campaign trial on Wednesday, Premier Jeremy Rockliff confirmed his government remained committed to introducing the legislative shortcut. Whether or not such laws are brought on following the 19 July state election, the stadium's fate ultimately rests on being voted through by both houses of parliament.
Mercury
22-06-2025
- Politics
- Mercury
Revealed: Australia Institute poll on Tasmania Devils AFL team deal
Don't miss out on the headlines from Tasmania. Followed categories will be added to My News. Tasmanians overwhelmingly want the state government to renegotiate its deal with the AFL to build a stadium at Macquarie Point, according to new public opinion polling conducted by the Australia Institute. The survey comes as the government backflipped on its boycott of the Tasmanian Planning Commission hearings on the project, which begin on Wednesday. The Institute commissioned polling by YouGov, which surveyed 842 voters on the topic between June 12 and 16. Constructing a roofed stadium at Macquarie Point is one of the conditions of the deal to add Tasmanian teams to the AFL and AFLW competitions. More than two-thirds of those surveyed (69 per cent) either agreed or strongly agreed with the proposition that 'the AFL is treating Tasmania unfairly in its requirements for granting Tasmania a license to join the national competition'. Just 21 per cent disagreed. Voters were also asked whether 'the Tasmanian Parliament should renegotiate with the AFL to avoid building a new stadium'. Again 69 per cent agreed — and 21 per cent disagreed. Those intending to vote for independent candidates were most in favour of renegotiation (81 per cent), followed by intending Greens voters (78 per cent), Labor voters (71 per cent) and Liberal voters were the least supportive (56 per cent). Opposition to the deal was strongest among those aged 35 to 47, where 75 per cent were in favour of a rethink. Australia Institute Tasmania director Eloise Carr said it was clear voters thought the stadium deal was a dud. 'Tasmanians are rightly appalled at the way they've been treated by the AFL,' she said. 'Whoever wins the state election on July 19 must stand up to the AFL and stand up for Tasmanians. 'This state deserves to have a team in the AFL, but Tassie taxpayers don't want to be on the hook for a billion-dollar indoor stadium they don't want. 'The AFL has put a gun to the head of Tasmanians and now it's sitting back, refusing to negotiate on the most terrible, one-sided deal in Australian sport. 'When you consider everything that Tasmania has done for footy for more than a century, this is shameful treatment by the AFL, which claims to support grassroots football.' Tasmanian Planning Commission hearings on the stadium under the Project of State Significance assessment process are scheduled to begin in Hobart on Wednesday. The government in May told the commission that 'the Crown will not actively engage with the integrated assessment processes' because it was planning to pass legislation to build the stadium instead. It seems to have since changed tack. In its latest communication with the Commission dated last Tuesday, it says its lawyers will 'modify its participation' to make a four to six-hour opening address, written and oral submissions and present its substantial case at the end of the hearing during a day of closing submissions.
Mercury
09-05-2025
- Business
- Mercury
Federal Group's Daniel Hanna raises cost concerns about Macquarie Point stadium
Don't miss out on the headlines from Tasmania. Followed categories will be added to My News. One of Tasmania's biggest employers, the Federal Group, has expressed concerns about the 'uncertain and significant' cost of the Macquarie Point stadium after polling showed community opposition to fast-tracking the project. The statewide EMRS polling, commissioned by Federal, also showed that of those polled more than two-thirds, or 70 per cent, were opposed to the state government spending more than its cap of $375m on the stadium. Of the 878 Tasmanians polled in mid April, 50 per cent opposed the government withdrawing from the Project of State Significance process while 24 per cent supported the move. It comes as the government announced this week that there would be no private investment in the stadium and the Macquarie Point Development Corporation would borrow cash and sell land to make up the shortfall, which is expected to be hundreds of millions of dollars. Federal's executive general manager, corporate and regulatory affairs, Dr Daniel Hanna said that the poll results should give the Tasmanian government pause for thought on their proposed fast-track stadium legislation. 'The results clearly demonstrate that Tasmanians hold concerns about this proposed stadium, especially the uncertain but significant costs,' he said. 'The proposed stadium is already a very divisive project, abandoning the Tasmanian Planning Commission process in favour of fast-track legislation will make that division even worse. 'Every developer in Tasmania must comply with the existing laws and processes, the Tasmanian community clearly wants the Tasmanian government to play by the same rules. 'The research supports the Tasmanian government reconsidering their position and continuing with the Tasmanian Planning Commission process.' Dr Hanna said the polling was commissioned to 'inform' Federal's submission to the Tasmanian Planning Commission, which it has not made public. 'We wanted to understand the views of the Tasmanian population about issues related to the cost and process followed, and whether some of the concerns we have were more widely held,' he said. 'We have submitted a comprehensive submission to the Tasmanian Planning Commission that outlines our concerns about this proposed stadium. 'These concerns have been held for some time and nothing we have seen recently has reduced these concerns. 'Our concerns centre on the proposed location, the significant costs to the state budget, the process followed, and the lack of consultation from the proponent. 'Having said that, we strongly support Tasmania having its own AFL team.' The polling results show that 62 per cent believe the Opposition and independent MPs should oppose the fast-track legislation if the spending cap is breached. Participants were asked if they agreed or disagreed with withdrawing from the POSS project, whether they agreed or disagreed that the Tasmanian government should spend more than its announced $375m and, if the government proposed to go beyond the spending cap of $375m, should the Opposition and independents oppose the special stadium legislation being introduced into parliament. Federal employs about 2000 people and owns both the MACq 01 and Henry Jones Art Hotel near to the proposed stadium. QUESTIONS FROM EMRS POLL ON MAC POINT STADIUM: 'The Tasmanian Government recently announced its decision to withdraw from the Tasmanian Planning Commission Projects of State Significance process. Do you agree or disagree with this decision?' Strongly agree – 14% Somewhat agree – 11% Neutral – 14% Somewhat disagree – 11% Strongly disagree – 38% NET Agree 24%; NET Disagree 50% 'Would you agree or disagree that the Tasmanian Government should spend more than its announced $375m?' Strongly agree – 12% Somewhat agree – 9% Neutral – 8% Somewhat disagree – 12% Strongly disagree – 57% NET Agree 21%; NET Disagree 70% 'In your opinion, if the Tasmanian government proposed to go beyond the spending cap of $375m should the Tasmanian opposition and independents oppose the special stadium legislation being introduced into parliament?' Yes – 62% No – 25% Unsure – 13%
