Tasmanian Government names location for new AFL High Performance Centre

The Tasmanian Government has announced that the High Performance Centre for the state’s AFL/AFLW teams will be located at Kingston’s Twin Ovals in south Hobart.

Once complete, the $70 million facility will house administrative offices, training facilities, and community-focused spaces, aiming to provide long-term benefits to both the team and the broader Tasmanian community.

It will feature two full-size ovals built to MCG dimensions, enabling players to train on grounds identical to those used in elite competition. Spanning 9,000 square metres, the facility will house purpose-built areas for men’s and women’s programs, an aquatic centre, recovery zones, a fully equipped gymnasium, and office spaces for the team’s operations and administration.

The High-Performance Centre (HPC) is backed by $60 million in funding from the Tasmanian Government, with an additional $10 million provided by the AFL.

Making the announcement yesterday, Tasmanian Minister for Sport and Events Nick Duigan said that the site had been chosen after significant due diligence had shown it offered the best location in terms of delivery, cost and community outcome.

Confirming that this strategic decision ensures “practical completion” of the project by October 2027, meeting the AFL’s agreed timeline, Minister Duigan explained that the Kingston site offered the best location in terms of delivery, cost and community outcome, commenting “this is a foundational step toward establishing Tasmania’s first dedicated AFL and AFLW teams.

“This facility will support elite player development, enabling Tasmanian athletes to compete at the highest levels while inspiring future generations.

“It will help create a legacy for local football and elevate Tasmania on the national sports stage.”

Mixed Reactions
Following the announcement, the Clarence City Council released a statement saying that it was “extremely disappointed” in the Government’s handling of HPC decision and process.

With the Rosny Parklands and Charles Hand Park sites in Clarence having been considered as locations for the facility, the statement advised “Clarence City Council is extremely disappointed that after nearly a year of heightened community debate and hundreds of thousands of dollars spent, the decision has been made by the State Government not to build the AFL/AFLW High Performance Centre in our municipality.

“Throughout this process it was continually stated publicly, as was told to council, that Rosny was the preferred site for the High Performance Centre.”

With the potential loss of open space at the Rosny having incurred significant opposition, the Council’s statement went on to note “it is a matter of public record that council members and staff have experienced unacceptable levels of abuse during this process from some members of the community, in part, because of the information vacuum that has surrounded this project, through no fault of council.

“It is a matter of deep regret that the division this project has created could have been entirely avoided.”

However, the Tasmanian Greens welcomed the news that the Centre will not go ahead on the Rosny Parklands or Charles Hand Park sites in Clarence.

It advised “this is a win for the Clarence community, who roundly rejected the building of the High Performance Centre across Rosny Parklands and Charles Hand Park in an elector poll. These vital greenspaces can continue to be used by the community.

“This decision would not have happened without the incredible work from the Save Rosny Parklands group and community members. They worked tirelessly to save these parklands for communities into the future, and we thank and congratulate them.”

Image: Concept design for the new High Performance Centre for Tasmanina’s AFL/AFLW teams.