Private consortium reveals alternative concept for Hobart's AFL Stadium

An alternative concept for Hobart's new AFL stadium has been revealed by a private development consortium.

Proposed for a site further east than that currently envisaged by the Tasmanian Government, the new concept would reach 250 metre into the Derwent estuary on reclaimed land.

Named 'Mac Point 2.0', the $2.3 billion concept would feature 450 apartments built into its waterfront facade.

As revealed by Hobart newspaper The Mercury, the consortium, backed by former Tasmanian Premier Paul Lennon and architect Dean Coleman of Melbourne-based Stadia Precinct Consorti, met Hobart Lord Mayor Anna Reynolds and the Hobart City Council late on Tuesday to present their model.

The stadium and entire Macquarie Point precinct plan, which would cost a total of $2.3 billion, was then unveiled to the Tasmanian Government.

As well as 450 apartments, the plan includes 5000 underground carparks, waterfront restaurants, retail and commercial tenancies, provision for social housing and private hospitals, a hotel and convention centre, new facilities for the Royal Hobart Regatta Association, and an RSL 'Lest We Forget' museum and headquarters.

As reported by The Mercury, Coleman advised "we are proposing a project that delivers significant cultural and community benefits beyond the economic and sporting aspirations of this once-in-a-lifetime project.

“The consortia’s vision is for a community precinct that all Tasmanians can be proud of, and which will stimulate Hobart’s cultural and tourism sectors as Wrest Point did in the 1970s and Mona has done in the past 10 years.

“Our proposal doesn’t take up the whole site allowing room for other projects such as the Aboriginal Truth and Reconciliation Park.”

Stadium 2.0, described as an apartment complex and convention centre with a stadium attached, is dug into the bank between the shore of the River Derwent and the Hobart Cenotaph.

Its top will be around the same height as the lawns of the Cenotaph and will have minimal impact on the aspect or solemnity of the site.

Coleman noted “we’re not going higher than the Cenotaph."

Construction of the new design would use all of the state, federal and AFL stadium/precinct funding, and generate the rest commercially.

Coleman added "the stadium comes within the $750 million and the cost of the other things is offset by the other commercial developments"

Images: Concepts for the 'Mac Point 2.0' stadium by the Stadia Precinct Consortia led by Dean Coleman and Paul Lennon. Credit: SolutionsWon.