Big goals unfulfilled at city’s Mac Point

CRITICISM of the slow progress at Hobart’s Macquarie Point continues to build with Tasmanian federal independent MP Andrew Wilkie suggesting the state government “couldn’t organise a p--sup at a brewery”.

Mr Wilkie on Friday slammed a succession of Tasmanian governments for a lack of progress, suggesting the 9.3ha development site had been used as a plaything.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese this week urged the Tasmanian government to “get on with” developing the prime land on Hobart’s waterfront.

State Development Minister Guy Barnett said there had been a large amount of work undertaken and achieved in terms of rehabilitation of the former industrial site.

“That should be acknowledged,” he said.

“There’s still a lot more work to do and there are big plans ahead on the masterplan and we want to see them implemented as soon as possible.”

Mr Wilkie said he urged the Labor state government in 2012 not to “stuff up” the project.

“Well, they (governments) certainly have and it’s deeply disappointing to see Mr Albanese back here 10 years later to observe the place is a mess and progress appalling,” he said.

“Despite the promise that the Mac Point precinct would be thick with cranes and concrete trucks in 2022, we have to date received virtually no bang for our buck.

“Big-ticket, city-shaping projects like the world-class Antarctic and science precinct and a truth and reconciliation art park remain unrealised.

“And now we have these 11th-hour calls from various groups to consider Mac Point as the site for an AFL stadium. That would require going back to the drawing board yet again and result in even more delays.”

Mr Wilkie said he supported the push for a Tasmanian AFL team and was not against a new AFL stadium being built if it was privately funded.

“(But) I believe Mac Point is simply not the right place to build it,” he said.

“I’m also dead against squandering any taxpayers’ money on such an expansive and expensive project.”