Latest news with #POSS
Perth Now
24-07-2025
- Politics
- Perth Now
Fast-track laws for AFL stadium appear punted
Plans to fast-track the approval process for a new $945 million stadium in Tasmania appear dead in the water because of delays caused by the state's snap election. Both the incumbent Liberals and Labor opposition are courting crossbench support after falling short of the 18-seats required for majority at Saturday's election. Four independents who hold the balance of power have said they won't be rushed on negotiations, with the final make-up of parliament likely not settled until August 2. The poll, which was called in June when Premier Jeremy Rockliff lost a vote of no-confidence, delayed legislation designed to fast-track the stadium's approval. Building a 23,000-seat roofed venue at Macquarie Point in Hobart is a condition of the Devils' AFL side entering the league in 2028. Tasmania faces financial penalties if the project doesn't meet construction timelines and if the stadium isn't ready for the club's second season in 2029. The incumbent Liberal government wanted to bring forward legislation to fast-track its approval, overriding the existing project of state significance (POSS) assessment process. The POSS process, which has held public hearings in recent weeks, has continued and will provide a final report on September 17. Mr Rockliff has indicated the fast-track legislation won't be pursued, given parliament may not return until September. "We put the enabling legislation forward because of particular timeframes," he told ABC radio on Thursday. "But expectations are the timelines are now roughly the same in terms of enabling legislation and the POSS process." Labor leader Dean Winter, whose party supports the stadium and said it would vote for the fast-track legislation, said he now wanted to see the project go through the POSS process. "It's clear there is no advantage, in terms of timeline, of the direct legislation," he told reporters. "The POSS has more certainty and is more likely to be supported in the Legislative Council." The stadium must pass a parliamentary vote under the POSS process to be approved. The stadium is supported by the Liberals - who have so far won 14 of 35 lower-house seats after the election - as well as Labor, who have claimed 10. But it faces a trickier passage through the Legislative Council where the major parties don't hold the numbers. Counting to determine the final two undecided election seats continues, with preference distribution expected to begin on Tuesday. Mr Rockliff and Mr Winter, who must obtain the support of the Greens to govern, are negotiating with a crossbench which is mostly opposed to the stadium. The Greens, who hold five seats, are against, as are independents Kristie Johnston, Craig Garland and Peter George. Independent David O'Byrne backs the stadium. Mr Rockliff and Mr Winter have said the stadium is not up for negotiation. Mr Winter reiterated Mr Rockliff would get "first crack" at governing, but Labor didn't want Tasmania forced back to another election if the Liberals couldn't. "In the event he can't secure 18 votes on the floor of the house there is going to need to be people working across the parliament together," Mr Winter said. Mr O'Byrne said the raw numbers on the floor would dictate how easy it would be for either major party to form government. He also said he was open to a Liberal or Labor government. Ms Johnston, Mr Garland and Mr George said formal negotiations won't begin until after the final election results have been decided, saying neither major party has a mandate to govern. "For that reason, like other cross bench members, we will be speaking to both major parties about confidence and supply," the trio said in a statement.
ABC News
24-06-2025
- Sport
- ABC News
Jeremy Rockliff strikes deal with cricket authorities for Hobart AFL stadium roof solution
A new agreement struck between Cricket Australia, Cricket Tasmania and Premier Jeremy Rockliff aims to ensure all forms of cricket will be able to be played at the Macquarie Point stadium, should the proposed arena earn planning approval and eventually be built. The 'heads of agreement' signed by the three stakeholders earlier this month, before the state election was called, lists 16 key principles agreed upon by the three parties, borne out of concern from cricket over the current design of the stadium's proposed roof, and fears cricket will not be able to be played underneath it. The agreement, co-signed by Cricket Tasmania's Dominic Baker, Cricket Australia's Todd Greenberg and Premier Rockliff, has been lodged in the Tasmanian Planning Commission (TPC) as part of Cricket Tasmania's submission to the planning authority ahead of Project of State Significance (POSS) hearings. It includes agreements the three parties "work together to resolve to the satisfaction of all relevant parties the final specifications for the stadium roof" and that discussions for the "resolution and optimisation of the roof design will involve senior representatives from both Cricket Australia and Cricket Tasmania, with support from a highly experienced expert in stadia design, operation and management". Cricket's primary concern has been about the impact of shadows moving across the field of play, in particular the cricket pitch block, cast by the stadium roof's supporting structure. All parties have agreed to work together to finalise a design that supports "a safe and acceptable playing, operational, including spectator viewing and broadcast environment". The heads of agreement marks a formalisation of discussions between cricket and the government, which agrees cricket is an essential stakeholder in the stadium It has been designed to mitigate fears the stadium could proceed without first being cleared by Cricket Australia and the International Cricket Council, leaving the stadium without content crucial to its business case and leaving Tasmanian cricket fixtures without a long-term home. In a supporting letter, Mr Baker told TPC chair John Ramsey the heads of agreement "acknowledges that a suitable multipurpose all-weather roofed stadium presents a world-leading opportunity to play the highest levels of cricket across all formats of the game uninterrupted". He said the heads of agreement "reinforces the parties' combined commitment to identifying a stadium design that aligns with and delivers on playing, operational and broadcast requirements" and that "provides a pathway for resolution of issues with the proposed roof design that have been identified as challenging for cricket" The three parties also agreed to work together to develop a business case for cricket's planned new high-performance centre, and a new Australian turf management centre of excellence, which would be presented to the federal government. There's also a commitment to develop a transition plan which would see cricket move out of Bellerive Oval, and into a new high-performance centre at Seven Mile Beach, with major fixtures relocated from Bellerive to the new stadium. However, there remains no commitment from either Cricket Australia or Cricket Tasmania to contribute to the cost of the build, despite a range of pricey provisions being made for the sport. Cricket believes its ability to bring top-level international content into the new stadium should be considered as its contribution, in lieu of any direct funding. Cricket has long been supportive of a roofed stadium at Macquarie Point, but its enthusiasm was dampened earlier this year when shadow modelling revealed that the proposed roof's supporting structure would cast moving shadows across the centre wicket block. It prompted cricket authorities to co-sign a letter to the Tasmanian government declaring the stadium would be "unlikely to be conducive to hosting test matches and could be challenged in hosting One Day and T20" fixtures. It also called for a rethink of the fixed roof element of the stadium, and a "discussion around what opportunity there is to consider a stadium design option that does not have a roof or that has an operable roof". Government delegates and cricket officials recently travelled to Dunedin in New Zealand to analyse the effect of shadows cast by the roof of the Forsyth Barr stadium onto the playing surface. In May, Macquarie Point Development Corporation (MPDC) chief executive Anne Beach said the design team had looked at other venues and "found that the dispersed nature of the shadow is quite minor when you experience it on the field". The MPDC was also looking into developing a "test rig" to help formulate a solution, but it is unclear how far that has progressed. There are no known plans to pivot away from a fixed roof toward a retractable or roofless solution. The MPDC was contacted for comment. Cricket Tasmania is one of a number of stakeholders that will front a TPC hearing today, as part of the POSS planning process under which the stadium is still being assessed. The hearings will take two weeks and feature submissions from the stadium's proponents, Tasmania Football Club, Stadiums Tasmania, as well as community groups Our Place, the Glebe Residents Association, Tasmanian Conservation Trust, and the Hobart City Council. The POSS process is continuing, despite pre-election plans by the government to abandon it in favour of attempting to progress special stadium legislation through both houses of parliament.
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%
