Tasmania’s planning commission says a new AFL stadium in Hobart would deliver far less bang for buck than the state government claims. The commission’s craft report – released as part of the approval process – has slammed the build which is a condition of Tasmania’s getting an AFL team licence.
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00:00The Tasmanian government is standing by its proposed Macquarie Point Stadium, despite
00:07a damning report from the state's planning commission.
00:11Released yesterday, the draft assessment says the costs are being understated and the benefits
00:17overestimated, while describing it as having an alien form that would not fit with the
00:22area's planning scheme.
00:25The state government says the costs would be $775 million, and has promised Tasmanians
00:30would be slugged no more than $375 million.
00:34The planning commission says the true costs would be $861 million, rising to around $1.2
00:41billion when additional infrastructure is added.
00:44It's also highlighting significant problems with traffic management and public transport,
00:49detrimental impacts on Hobart's cityscape, and a whole host more.
00:54This report was produced as part of the current planning process for the stadium, and it
00:58should be read as an issues paper.
01:00It's highlighting just the current problems with the proposal.
01:04But it's certainly emboldened opposition.
01:06Recent polling by EMRS found around 60% of Tasmanians opposed it.
01:11The state government's still backing their plans.
01:14It's pointing to the AFL deal, which says no stadium, no team, and pleading the benefits.
01:20We've had clear, strong feedback from across business and industry who want these kind
01:26of investments.
01:27The hospitality industry, the tourism industry, the construction industry, Tasmanians more
01:32broadly understand that this is intergenerational infrastructure.
01:37State Parliament is sitting today, and opponents are calling on the Premier to abandon his
01:42plans.
01:43He's standing firm, and says MPs will have the final say.