Media release – Josh Willie MLC,Shadow Minister for Sport, 14 April 2022
Liberal turmoil spells the end for Hobart icon
The chaos that continues to engulf the Rockliff-Ferguson Government means Tasmanians miss out as the Premier and his Ministers focus on themselves instead of the community.
New Sports Minister Nic Street was so distracted by the internal mess of the government that he has allowed the opportunity to save a Hobart sporting and recreational icon slip through his fingers.
The Glenorchy Ice Rink has now been sold and will be repurposed after the Liberal Government neglected an offer to keep it open, citing its own instability due to the on-going chaos within its Ministry including the resignation of the former Premier.
Ice Sports Tasmania has made it clear today that the Liberal Government was made an offer by an investor group to enter an in-principle agreement with no cost attached to keep the rink open in the interim as they worked together toward an Olympic Ice Sport Stadium.
The government cited “instablility due to the recent change of Premier” preventing this arrangement going ahead, resulting in the sale.
It’s Nic Street’s job to provide sporting facilities and keep existing facilities open – importantly encouraging kids into sports – and he has stumbled at his first hurdle.
This iconic facility has been part of the community fabric for more than 40 years as the only rink in the state and ice sports participants as well as families who use the rink have Nic Street’s navel gazing to thank for its demise.
Media release – Nic Street, Minister for Sport and Recreation, 14 April 2022
What has Josh Willie actually done to help ice sports?
Desperate for headlines because he is up for re-election, Josh Willie’s rank political opportunism has done absolutely nothing to support ice sports.
I am aware that the Glenorchy Ice Skating Rink has been sold and that there are concerns from the local ice sports community and current users of the rink about its future.
I have met with Ice Sports Tasmania several times over the past month to discuss these concerns and to try to find a solution.
Mr Willie has done nothing to help the situation, apart from put out another pathetic media release.
The sale of the Glenorchy Ice Skating Rink was a private sale, and it would not have been appropriate for the State Government to interfere with that process.
I will remain in contact with Ice Sports Tasmania as they work to secure the future of their sports in Tasmania and assist wherever possible.
Skate all year round in any conditions with a synthetic ice rink.
Media release – Ice Sports Tasmania, 25 April 2022
Tassie ice sports dreams frozen – only state without a rink
Tasmania’s ice sports community is rallying around a fresh call for state government support following confirmation the state’s only ice rink will soon close.
The privately-owned facility is one of only 20 ice rinks in Australia, and as Tasmania’s sole outlet for figure skaters, ice hockey players, Paralympic sled hockey players and recreational skaters, the decision to sell and repurpose it is a huge blow.
“Hundreds of social and competitive ice-hockey and figure skating athletes have no local future in their sport and our young people have lost a place of community connection,” Anna Holliday, president of Ice Sports Tasmania said today. “Come 21 May, all of them will be left without a home to train, compete and play together.”
As Australia’s southern-most state, Tasmania is ideally situated to nurture vibrant, successful and sustainable ice sports. Ice Sports Tasmania, the peak body in the state, is working to secure a future for the state’s ice sports.
“The evidence of the benefits of participation in sport feeding into improved health outcomes and stronger community connection is well documented, Ms. Holliday said. “More importantly for the future, the ice sports need a new full-sized facility.
“A new facility would see us introduce sports such as ice speed skating, curling and broomball, school-based junior programs and vulnerable youth programs.
“With a new full size ice rink with modern amenities, Ice Sports Tasmania would also plan to establish a raft of ice sports programs for people with disability,” she added.
Since the announcement of the rink sale, Ice Sports Tasmania has recorded a strong and immediate groundswell of support for a new full size ice sports centre. An online petition from the group has gathered over 1100 signatures within the campaign’s first 48 hours.
“We are humbled by the influx of messages from local and interstate supporters, and we also realise the impact our local situation may have on ice sports on a national scale,” Ms Holliday said. “The messages are consistent, that ice sports in Tasmania need to be saved by securing a new full size ice sports centre.”
If Tasmania was to end up being Australia’s only state or territory without an ice sports centre, it would thwart the state’s residents from benefiting from the support and promotion of sports such as curling, ice speed skating, ice hockey and figure skating which attract key development funding from international and national bodies. For example, the World Curling Federation is keen for Australia’s curlers to grow the sport far and wide following the first-ever Winter Olympic Games appearance by two Aussies in the mixed doubles.
“Government investment in ice sports is worthy – enabling physical activity as well as offering the state social, economic and sporting outcomes in the near future,” Ms Holliday said. “We are calling on the Tasmanian Government to work with Ice Sports Tasmania, the private sector and our community to establish a new full-sized Tasmanian ice sports centre.
“This includes exploring a potential partnership between government and private investors,” she added. For more information and to provide your support, go to www.icesportstasmania.com.au.
