Media release – Jeremy Rockliff, Premier, 15 October 2023

Macquarie Point draft Precinct Plan unveiled

The Rockliff Liberal Government’s once-in-a-generation infrastructure agenda has taken another step forward with the release of the draft Precinct Plan for the Macquarie Point Urban Renewal project.

Premier and Minister for State Development, Jeremy Rockliff said the draft Plan shows Mac Point will be an integrated, vibrant and exciting region for all Tasmanians to experience.

“The Precinct will be a place to share and celebrate our history, enjoy the foreshore, conduct business, and bring together visitors and the community alike,” the Premier said.

“The draft Plan includes a multipurpose stadium, Antarctic facilities, residential development, an Aboriginal culturally informed zone and a mixed-use zone.

“The submission process shows that Tasmanians are passionate about the opportunities in front of us for this site and this plan is just a glimpse of what we will achieve at Mac Point.”

More than 2000 submissions, 100 meetings with stakeholders and individuals, and input from a number of experts have been used to inform the draft Precinct Plan.

A blueprint for the urban renewal project, the draft Plan will now be used to finalise the site’s layout and inform the masterplan.

The Rockliff Liberal Government is delivering on our long-term plan to redevelop the Macquarie Point site, including progressing the Project of State Significance process for a multipurpose stadium.

“We are preparing an order for the Project of State Significance that will be tabled in Parliament this week to get this project underway,” the Premier said.

“Our Government is absolutely focussed on taking our State to new levels, and making it the best place to live, work and raise a family.

“We can only achieve this when we are bold and say yes to game-changing infrastructure projects and developments that create jobs and wealth for Tasmanian families.”

Community engagement on the site will continue, with Tasmanians encouraged to provide feedback on the zones set out in the plan.

To view the plan, visit www.macpoint.com/precinctplan.

Media release – Shane Broad MP, Shadow Treasurer, 15 October 2023

Pretty pictures but no detail

The release of the Precinct Plan shows that once again, Jeremy Rockliff and the Liberals simply haven’t done the work.

Instead of providing any answers, the Precinct Plan just raises more questions.

There are no designs, no indication of how any of this will be paid for, and it’s clear they’ve still got serious issues with key stakeholders like the RSL and the Aboriginal community.

If artist impressions are best the Liberals could manage after 18 months and millions of dollars being spent on consultants, I think Tasmanians are right to be skeptical about Jeremy Rockliff’s ability to deliver what he’s promised.

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

Stadium proposal has become a farce

It’s farcical that the Premier is now talking about the Macquarie Point stadium having 40,000 seats when we have no designs for the project and won’t for at least 12 months and his shonky business case earlier this year said it only needed 23,000 seats.

The Premier unveiled plans via Facebook last night to increase the seating capacity of the Macquarie Point Stadium from 23,000 to 40,000.

How on earth does he expect to stay within the $715 million price tag for the stadium?

He’s the only person in Tasmania that believes a 23,000-seat stadium can be built for $715 million but now he’s talking about it having twice as many seats.

The Premier is making this up as he goes along and it would have to be one of the worst planned infrastructure projects in the state’s history.

Premier Rockliff has not revealed how he is paying for the increased stadium cost but he also hasn’t revealed how he’ll pay for the other components of his precinct plan.

It is disappointing there will be so little detail available before Parliament is asked to consider Project of State Significance legislation.

It seems more and more likely that the POSS process might be the only way to actually get some truth and answers about this project.

Media release – Vica Bayley MP, Greens Infrastructure spokesperson, 15 October 2023

Mac Point Plan Just Stadium Propaganda

The Liberals’ newly released Macquarie Point Precinct Plan is nothing more than expensive propaganda for their unpopular and unnecessary planned stadium.

After years of consultation at a cost of millions of dollars, the stadium-free 2022 Macquarie Point Master Plan has now been junked and development contracts torn up, resulting in the taxpayer forking out compensation to a Melbourne-based property developer. The new Precinct Plan is the emergency precursor to a so-called ‘refreshed’ Master Plan, now forced to accommodate a Government-prescribed stadium that Tasmania neither wants or needs.

No one truly believes a roofed stadium at Macquarie Point can be built for $715 million and this plan shows there is a plethora of other public investment required if it is ever going to be realised.

With the Tasmanian taxpayer responsible for all cost overruns and a Federal Government funding allocation of $240 million tied to a broader precinct redevelopment, including the wharf upgrade, Premier Rockliff should come clean on how much he is prepared to pay for his pet project.

In a cost of living crisis and with a profound lack of public investment in health, housing, public transport and action on tackling climate change, the Pemier owes Tasmanians transparency on how much the stadium will really cost and where the money will come from.

This precinct plan is just another glossy piece of the Premier’s stadium propaganda. While there’s artists impressions of many elements, its silent on the size and bulk of the stadium and impacts on important values like the Cenotaph, streetscapes and waterfront viewpoints. The plan makes no reference to compliance with the Sullivans Cove Planning Scheme and the protections it afford the Cenotaph and visual amenity around the site.

This stadium has divided the state and almost brought down the Government. This precinct plan simply highlights a willingness for Premier Rockliff to bulldoze ahead, irrespective of the financial cost to the state, the political cost to his government or the opportunity cost for one of the country’s premier urban development opportunities.