Architect kicks off city stadium vision

THE Tasmanian Government has poured cold water on an ambitious plan for a $500 million, 27,000-seat AFL stadium at Macquarie Park.

Architect and part-owner of the Hobart Brewing Company Don Gallagher has come up with concept plans off his own bat featuring a new multi-code stadium that would home a Tasmanian AFL team alongside a hotel, convention centre, cafes and restaurants on the vast city site.

However, despite initially saying the proposal had merit, a spokesman for the State Government said it would not be wavering from its Macquarie Point masterplan that does not incorporate a sports stadium.

“The current masterplan for Mac Point does not include a stadium,” he said.

“The Hodgman majority Liberal Government is getting on with the job of delivering the masterplan that has been consulted with the Tasmanian community and approved by the Tasmanian Planning Commission.”

Mr Gallagher said he was well versed in Mac Point, having spent the past four years there at the Hobart Brewing Company, and wanted to create a park open to the public incorporating the site’s Mona vision, including the Truth and Reconciliation Park, and the Cenotaph.

“It is a pretty complex site and it is a chance to do something grand,” he said.

“I just think Macquarie Point needs something to really generate it and it needs to be public, so the idea of it being a park 365 days a year minus game days and concerts or whatever.

“No one has put me up to this, I’ve just done it in-house, but I thought it was good to put it out there and see what the public think. Hopefully people like it.”

He said unlike other “fortress” style stadiums, there would be no need for ugly ramps as it would be more built into the ground with an easy walk up to the venue, and could include a roof if need be.

Mr Gallagher said it could make use of the nearby light rail to the northern suburbs and ferries from the Eastern Shore to limit traffic congestion.

“I’ve shown this to some pretty serious engineers and architects that could definitely handle it if it went anywhere,” he said.

“I’ve had a lot of discussions with the MCG Trust and also Kardinia Park Trust, so I’ve had a lot of input from people who know stadium issues and it works.

“It stacks up.”

Mr Gallagher has a background in high-end domestic architecture and also designed the centre for Pennicott’s Wilderness Journeys on Bruny Island.