Media release – Clarence City Council, 15 May 2024
Community members have their say on proposed AFL/AFLW High Performance Centre in Rosny
Over 400 people have turned out for a public meeting to share their views and vote on several motions regarding the proposed AFL/AFLW High performance Centre in Rosny.
The meeting was held in response to a petition submitted by the Save Rosny’s Parks group at the Clarence City Council meeting on 18 March 2024. The petition cited concerns over the proposed AFL/AFLW High Performance Centre’s site locations in Rosny and requested a public meeting.
On the night, the room heard from two representatives of Save Rosny’s Parks, alongside Clarence City Council Mayor Brendan Blomeley, CEO Ian Nelson and representatives from the Department of State Growth and the Tasmanian Football Club.
The meeting voted on six motions put forward by the petitioner, Save Rosny’s Parks.
• The meeting moved to carry the motion: That the level of consultation undertaken by Clarence Council with residents does not constitute comprehensive community consultation and was insufficient for such a significant issue.
• The meeting moved to carry the motion: That this meeting opposes the use of Charles Hand Memorial Park and Rosny Parklands for an AFL High Performance Training Centre, as approved in principle by Clarence City Council.
• The meeting moved to carry the motion: That Clarence City Council starts a new, comprehensive and widely publicised consultation within the Clarence community on alternative sites for an AFL High Performance Training Centre.
• The meeting moved to carry the motion: That Charles Hand Memorial Park and Rosny Parklands are sympathetically developed according to the City Hearts Plan in continued consultation with the community.
• The meeting moved to carry the motion: That until it is confirmed by Parliament that an AFL stadium will exist in Hobart, no site works in preparation for the High- Performance Training Centre is to commence at any selected location in Clarence.
• The meeting moved to carry the motion: That council rescinds its vote of 11th of December (see Appendix B) authorising the CEO to submit a proposal for two site options and to negotiate terms for a Heads of Agreement with State Growth.
A report will be prepared on the public meeting and put to the next Council meeting on Monday, 27 May. The report will include all motions carried for Council to note.
Clarence City Council Mayor Brendan Blomeley said the meeting was democracy in action.
“This was a unique opportunity to walk through the process together and ensure that all voices, on all sides, were aired and heard,” he said.
“Everyone here tonight is passionate about this community and its future, and in a healthy democracy these conversations are vital.
“In the past few weeks, we have received 362 written submissions from the community, and tonight we continued to listen to our community.
“Council will seriously take on board what we heard tonight from a segment of the community and I look forward to discussing the motions passed by those who attended the meeting, with my fellow Councillors at Council’s next meeting.”
A recording of the meeting will be available via Clarence City Council’s website in the coming days.
Media release – Savey Rosny’s Parks, 16 May 2024
LEARNING MOMENT FOR CLARENCE COUNCIL
The public meeting held by Clarence City Council (CCC) at the behest of Save Rosny’s Park’s petition, was packed with approximately 400 people and an overflow area watching on a big screen.
Terry Polglase said “We have created an opportunity for Council to have a serious discussion on Monday week. Now they know the views of the community, they have to make the right decision about where a high performance centre can go, away from our two parks, so it can stay in Clarence.”
The two issues raised in the petition were the lack of consultation, and the appropriateness of the site for a development such as the AFL High Performance Training Centre. For the most part, participants did stick to these issues.
Numerous people asked questions of the panel that included Mayor Brendan Blomeley, CCC CEO Ian Nelson, Craig Limkin Secretary of the Department of State Growth and Roger Curtis from the Tasmania Devils.
From the responses we learned that the initial consultation process – the survey – was a ‘general high level’ approach which sought to feel out the mood of community while a limited number of stakeholders were consulted.
A Rosny College student and a resident living opposite Charles Hand Park asked Mayor Blomeley when they might be consulted. While these people would be directly impacted, Council apparently did not recognise them as stakeholders.
The fate of the skate park is still in doubt. Council could not tell those at the meeting whether it will be removed or not. When and where an alternate skate park might be built is an open question.
Six motions put forward by SRP were passed.
- That the level of consultation undertaken by Clarence Council with residents does not constitute comprehensive community consultation and was insufficient for such a significant issue.
- That this meeting opposes the use of Charles Hand Memorial Park and Rosny Parklands for an AFL High Performance Training Centre, as approved in principle by Clarence City Council.
- That Clarence City Council starts a new, comprehensive, and widely publicised consultation within the Clarence community on alternative sites for an AFL High Performance Training Centre.
- That Charles Hand Memorial Park and Rosny Parklands are sympathetically developed according to the City Hearts Plan in continued consultation with the community.
- That until it is confirmed by Parliament that an AFL stadium will exist in Hobart, no site works in preparation for the High- Performance Training Centre is to commence at any selected location in Clarence.
- That council rescinds its vote of 11th of December (see Appendix B) authorising the CEO to submit a proposal for two site options and to negotiate terms for a Heads of Agreement with State Growth.
These motions will be discussed at the next Council meeting.
Terry Polglase said “The mood of the majority of the participants was that the parks, Charles Hand and the Rosny Parklands, are to be valued for what they are, green space open to everyone. The ball is now in the Councils court.”
SRP would like to thank the facilitators, council staff and all the participants for attending.
Joe Crawford
May 16, 2024 at 11:15
In Clarence, the City Hearts Plan was conceived over a period of time, including lengthy consultation with, and input from, the people of Clarence.
At Macquarie Point, the Macquarie Point Development Corporation articulated a vision for a “vibrant, liveable and sustainable place that optimises economic, social, environmental and aesthetic outcomes that complement (the site’s) surrounds, enhance connectivity, and offer a range of opportunities to live, work, invest and play.” And after further investigation the MPDC changed its relationship with the wider community, understanding that community and stakeholder engagement were central elements of its business.
Both of these processes took time and featured consultation with the people who would be most directly affected by any development. Then along comes the AFL, and with the obsequious acquiescence of Premier Rockcliff, these long-developed plans were simply disregarded and the AFL – an organisation hitherto uninterested in Tasmania, gets everything it demands.
Small wonder that people are furious!
This article, at ArchitectureAU, sums things up succinctly.