Hobart Stadium Faces Make or Break Vote

The Tasmanian Government has produced new renders of the Macquarie Point Stadium—the world’s largest oval-shaped timber stadium—along with draft legislation, which it will introduce to parliament in weeks.

It comes as the Jeremy Rockliff government today updated the cost estimate for the timber-domed stadium, saying it is now estimated to be $945 million, up from its previous figure of $775 million, all thanks to additional improvements to the acoustics of the surrounding buildings.

“The Government has reviewed and acknowledged the concerns and challenges raised within the draft Integrated Assessment Report by the Tasmanian Planning Commission,” according to Eric Abetz, Minister for Business, Industry and Resources, who could have responsibility for issuing the permit for the new stadium: “This draft bill and subsequent planning conditions address these points and demonstrate the government’s efforts to ensure the legislation is comprehensive.”