The Macquarie Point Development Corporation (MPDC) has submitted its application to develop the new 23,000-seat stadium intended to house an Australian Football League (AFL) club in Hobart, with the project’s price tag having now risen to A$775m (£397.7m/€472.3m/$525.9m).
The submission marks the start of the assessment through the Project of State Significance process. The Tasmanian Planning Commission will now assess the proposal against the Integrated Assessment Guidelines that it published earlier this year.
“The submission is the cumulation of our work over the past six-months to carefully design the Multipurpose Stadium, while considering land-use planning, environmental, cultural and heritage, transport and movement, and economic and social impacts and benefits, as set out in the Integrated Assessment Guidelines,” said Anne Beach, CEO of MPDC.
“Our submission presents a strong case for the development of the Multipurpose Stadium here at Macquarie Point.”
The submission comprises a 260-page Summary Report and around 4,000 pages of supporting reports provided in attachments. The project’s current price tag represents a A$60m increase on what has previously been declared, with the Tasmanian Government stating its contribution will remain capped at A$375m.
With the federal government committing A$240m and the AFL adding a further A$15m, this means the extra funding will need to be sourced from the private sector. Tasmania’s Minister for Sport and Events, Nic Street, said: “Through our 2030 Strong Plan for Tasmania’s Future, the Tasmanian Government is investing in transformational infrastructure projects for our state, one of which is Macquarie Point.
“It will grow our economy, create local jobs, both during construction and after it is built, and it will deliver the AFL and AFLW teams Tasmanians have been wanting for decades. Our funding to this project is capped at A$375m, and we know for that investment we will be able to deliver something truly world-class.
“Our stadium will be uniquely Tasmanian and this is something we are extremely proud of.”
In July, new concept designs were released for what is set to become the world’s largest timber-roofed stadium. The 23,000-seat Mac Point Multipurpose Stadium is being designed by Cox Architecture, which was appointed in May by the MPDC.
The stadium includes a 1,500-person function room with views of Mount Wellington. The design has been informed by modelling cricket ball trajectory data to ensure the stadium is capable of hosting top-level cricket as well as AFL games.
The venue will also feature a stage pocket in the northern stand to support concerts and events, while a single continuous concourse will run around the entire stadium. Fans will be seated close to the pitch, and a separated back of house and catering facilities will offer a below-ground service road to separate vehicles and stadium visitors.
Cox has implemented a woven-style façade in the design, inspired by the shape of the roundhouse structure that used to be part of the Hobart Rail Yard at Macquarie Point. The transparent signature roof, which in itself is expected to cost around A$190m, will be supported by an internal steel and timber frame.
“Our work shows the exciting opportunity that this project presents for Hobart, the region and the state,” Beach added.
“It will see the development of a new roofed stadium and function centre in central Hobart, which has been carefully designed to integrate with the precinct and to offer a fan-first experience and design.
“This includes accessible internal and external concourses and a carefully designed seating bowl that will bring crowds closer to the action.”
Construction of the stadium was a condition of the AFL granting a licence to Tasmania in May 2023 for a team that is lined up to enter the competition in 2028. The new stadium is expected to be delivered in time for the 2029 AFL season.
