Govt Stadium Image Found to be Misleading

Another independent architectural firm has cast doubt on the accuracy of the stadium impact image released by the Premier on Tuesday (see at end of article).

The new mock-up by MK8 backs the representation released by Bence Mulcahy earlier that day. In response to getting flogging on social media over the visual impact, the Premier’s media team finally released an image originally prepared by Liminal Architects, showing a lower  profile of the stadium.

“Don’t be fooled by the blockers, as dodgy as some of their efforts may be,” Premier Rockliff’s team wailed on his social media accounts.

However Mk8 has since supplied a “corrected survey of yesterday’s Department of the Premier supplied image (interestingly not accredited to Liminal Design as were earlier promotional drawings,” according to spokesperson. “We suspect a disassociation of the group from this latest fabrication.”

The image again demonstrates the likely visual impact of the stadium roof on the Hunter Street skyline in Hobart, and clearly shows the new structure will overshadow the heritage buildings.

The design and survey experts said their new image was carefully surveyed and plotted on site to show the shortcomings of the government’s CGI overlay, with the heights based on the state government’s own published dimensions.

“Our site survey found (among other points), the most relevant datum is the existing 33-metre-high brick, gasworks chimney stack (on the western side of Davey Street) which, when used as a sightline standing at the eastern-end of Evans Street, correctly defines the assumed southern boundary of the proposed site and can therefore establish a fixed-reference elevation.

“As with all photographic CGI, the lateral dimensions can only be approximated and, as such, we have erred on the side of caution by not correcting the ill-defined width of the stadium which is proposed to be around 200 metres (stadium diameter).”

The original post by Tasmanian Times has become our most viewed article of the year. Comments on our Twitter post ran approximately 60% against the stadium and and 40% for, consistent with the three significant statewide polls done in recent months.

Those against typically derided the image as unrealistic, making comments like ‘Never let truth get in the way…’, ‘Not even the design…’ and ‘the anti everything mob must be getting desperate!’ None were able to identify why or how the image was inaccurate, given that Bence Mulcahy had clearly explained their methodology. 

“We used computer software to create a model the size and shape of the stadium,” they said. “Inputs for this are based upon the information made publicly available in Tasmanian government documents … The proposed stadium is 40 metres high, 240 metres long and 210 metres wide. There is limited information available but what is available is very clear and therefore the model is accurate as there is little opportunity for error.”

The AFL continues to make no public comment on the issue.

The Premier’s version, only released after being mauled on social media. The name of Liminal (Architects) has been removed.

The Bence Mulcahy image.