Community Group Launches New Vision & Master Plan for Macquarie Point

Website statement – Our Place, 20 April 2023

a Tasmanian Vision for Macquarie Point

The Macquarie Point Vision is an iconic housing development of 1,000 new homes for 2,000-3,000 people that has as its centrepiece an enhanced, nationally significant Truth and Reconciliation Park.

It speaks to what Hobartians need, which is housing, and what they want, which is reconciliation with the palawa people. It is about Tasmania’s needs and values.

It is about creating an iconic, internationally significant urban renewal project which answers our needs and addresses our problems. It is about hope and pride, truth and the future. It’s about our place.

The current Long House is maintained as a mixed use commercial hub (accommodating creative agencies, a fitness gym and an indigenous social enterprise) with minor modification to its north end to allow it to open out onto the newly developed sunny public space.

The Macquarie Point Vision is an initiative of Our Place, a group of Tasmanians who wish to see development that benefits Tasmanians, not vested corporate interests. The creative work has been done in partnership with Bence Mulcahy, bencemulcahy.com.au.

For further information go to, macquariepointvision.net.au.

Editor’s note: It’s very worth following this link to have a look at the 28 featured ideas on the new site. There is plenty of detail there and lots of images of the concepts.

Media release – Cassy O’Connor MP, Greens Leader, 20 April 2023

At Last, A Genuine Vision for Macquarie Point

Macquarie Point belongs to the Tasmanian people, not the Liberals or the AFL. There’s no mandate for a billion dollar stadium and very little public support.

Tasmanians know we can do better for Macquarie Point.

Launched by former Governor Kate Warner today, the Our Place: a Tasmanian Vision for Macquarie Point Master Plan is an inspiring reminder of the site’s potential to be a real place for people, Aboriginal culture, sustainability and science.

The Our Place plan reflects the true potential and original vision for Macquarie Point. This master plan brings together a diverse range of purposes in a thoughtful, creative, and inclusive way.

It’s about what is best for Tasmania – not what’s best for the AFL.

Thanks to the Liberals’ go-slow approach, Macquarie Point has become something of a sore spot for the people of nipaluna/Hobart. The government’s lack of enthusiasm for a bold community vision has seen remediation work drag on for years, only for the site to be promised to the AFL for an unneeded and unwanted billion dollar stadium.

The Liberals clearly don’t see the incredible potential for this priceless location, but the Tasmanian community does.

People from all walks of life, from all over Hobart and around lutruwita, know that Macquarie Point has so much to offer – if only the government could take its head out of the sand.

While the Rockliff Government has abandoned the promised Truth and Reconciliation Park for Macquarie Point, the Our Place plan recognises and celebrates this island’s rich, 60,000 year history, and acknowledges the deep suffering caused by colonisation. This could – and should – be a nationally significant development.

The Liberals’ neglect over a decade has created the housing crisis, so it’s no surprise they’re crab walking away from the Escarpment housing project. The Our Place master plan, on the other hand, prioritises housing over a $1 billion stadium, and includes homes for 2000-3000 people.

The plan includes a new State Library, a swimming basin, access to the foreshore, a transit hub, public art, pedestrian and cycling infrastructure, and a beautiful plaza square.

It would create a vibrant space for Tasmanians and visitors every day of the year, not just when there’s footy on.

Does Jeremy Rockliff want to keep doing the AFL’s bidding and sink the state into hundreds of millions of dollars of state debt into an unnecessary stadium? Instead he could do something truly visionary and transformative for the benefit of the Tasmanian community.

Media release – Kristie Johnston MP, 20 April 2023

At Last! A Macquarie Point Proposal That Nurtures Our Community, Not Divides It

At Last! A proposal for Macquarie Point that respects and enhances the site for all Tasmanians, rather than a white elephant stadium that a majority of Tasmanians clearly don’t want.

This proposal puts the people of Tasmania first. Much needed homes, access to decent public transport, public open space, and a truth and reconciliation park that respects and recognises Tasmania’s aboriginal community.

This proposal offers light and joy – compare that to the soulless concrete stadium the big end of town want.

I spend a lot of time with my constituents, listening to their views, taking their advice and trying to find ways to make this state we have been blessed with a better place to live. I can tell you, I’m not being stopped in the streets by stadium supporters; overwhelmingly I am told that if there are millions of dollars available for a football stadium, it would be better spent on the things important to every-day people. Access to health services, affordable housing, more caring communities – these are what people want.

Clearly there is a lot to learn about this new proposal as details become available, but from where I sit, this is the breath of fresh air the Macquarie Point saga needs, and needs now before the dreadful stadium idea becomes a nightmare.

Media release – Dean Winter MP, Shadow Minister for Economic Development, 20 April 2023

Alternative Macquarie Point vision is far better for Tasmania

The alternative Macquarie Point vision announced today shows it is possible to utilise Macquarie Point to deal with one of Tasmania’s most pressing issues, housing.

The site presents an opportunity to generate significant social and economic benefit for Tasmania – two things Jeremy Rockliff’s planned stadium will not do.

Jeremy Rockliff is blindly chasing a stadium-dream which is proven to be a total economic dud by his own business case, and will prevent the site from reaching its full potential.

Jeremy Rockliff’s bad decision to abandon considered development in favour of a stadium will cost Tasmanians hundreds of millions of dollars in real terms, with the opportunity cost to be even higher.

The Liberal Government has had nearly ten years to come up with a plan for Mac Point that benefits Tasmanians.

If they were going to develop something there they’d have done it by now.

Yet the best they have come up with is a billion-dollar taxpayer funded stadium that we don’t need and can’t afford.

Comments received via Twitter – various authors, 20 April 2023

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Fascinating to see community leaders with no vested interests step up to stimulate & invite community discussion for a shared vision for Mac Point in the void created by unconsulted, contentious Govt pursuit of a stadium. – @MegWebbTweets

There are some seriously interesting proposals out there if we could just get past ridiculous distractions like stadiums and cable cars. – @drclimate

I am still excited by the prospect of something far different than a stadium, one which prioritises public and active transport and creates healthy streets. – @mathewasharp

Looks great. It’s what the govt should be doing. – @BibblesIsca

A far better vision than an inward looking stadium. – @graytonil

This is the vision I envisaged for Mac Point. Genuine urban renewal with a focus on what is a pressing issue; housing. It is exactly what is needed and is not a stadium. – @gasugasu1984

Clear winner. An exciting proposal to benefit all Tasmanians, not just footy fans & big business. Build a stadium, sure but not there for Gods sake. Re-develop the TCA. – @LennyGlenn

A brilliant vision. Just build it. I can’t wait to do some laps and look up to see kunanyi. – @peterhickstas

1000 houses for $300M, dreaming. That would barely cover construction costs, who owns the land these sit on as that will triple the cost. – @bjt0080

Finally a vision that actually serves the community’s needs and has real social value. – @owenandrews

Very appealing. – @workdemographer

So much more inclusive and better use of land than a stadium wrll done to all involved. Costing much lower and housing people in need. If only the Gov had half this vision. – @SheenaghTAS

It looks even better than the official Mac Point Development Master Plan the #politas Gov’t commissioned and paid for, before throwing it aside for a stadium. – @vicabayley