Media release – Shane Broad MP, Shadow Treasurer, 16 September 2023

Geotechnical report proves stadium on shaky ground

The uncovering of a geotechnical report commissioned in 2015 has also uncovered serious new doubts about Jeremy Rockliff’s commitment that he will be able to build a fully-roofed, 23,000 seat at Macquarie Point for $715 million.

The stadium is not a matter of enthusiasm or ambition, it’s a matter of engineering and finance. The Premier’s claims it can be built with a roof at Macquarie Point for $715 million are fuelled by either dishonesty or delusion.

The Douglas Partners report (attached), highlights a host of significant engineering challenges across the site which will make building the roofed stadium Jeremy Rockliff has promised hideously expensive, including:

  • Fill at the site has “poor geotechnical properties” being only suitable to support lightweight structures that are non-settlement sensitive.
    • For heavier, settlement sensitive structures (the report identifies buildings above 1-2 storeys), piles will have to be driven up to 18m deep into bedrock
  • Ground water is generally between two and five metres below the surface

It is unbelievable that we have a Premier who would sign a deal with the AFL that hinges on a roofed stadium at Macquarie Point without even doing any due diligence on the site.

This report raises serious doubts about whether it is even possible to build a 45 metre high roofed stadium at Macquarie Point, at least without blowing the cost out well beyond a billion dollars.

If it is possible that a stadium can be built there it will require an horrendously expensive engineering solution.

It is clear that all Premier Rockliff’s hope and his $715 million budget have been smacked in the face by reality.

The Australian today confirmed there was “consideration within government of dumping the stadium roof to lower the height and cost”, despite such action risking a breach of the AFL deal.

Even though Jeremy Rockliff has said renegotiating his terrible deal isn’t possible, it is becoming clearer and clearer Tasmania should sit down with the AFL and have civilised, mature conversations about the best way forward.

Read the geotechnical report: https://tasmaniantimes.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/DOUGLAS-PARTNERS-Constructability-Report-.pdf