For the second weekend in a row, Tasmania’s proposed Macquarie Point stadium has drawn a large crowd to Hobart’s parliament lawns \u2014 this time to stand in support of the project.<\/p>\n
On December 4, Tasmania’s Legislative Council will vote on whether to approve or reject a 23,000-seat stadium, bringing years of debate to an end.<\/p>\n
Katrina Devereux believes a stadium will bring growth to the state “and a future for our children”.<\/p>\n
“My son’s actually left [the state] because there’s nothing for us in Tasmania. We actually need things for the young people,” she said.<\/p>\n
“I’ve got two little grandchildren, so yes, we’re very passionate about the stadium.”<\/p>\n
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Emma McQueen (left) and Katrina Devereux want to see development in Tasmania. (ABC News: Jessica Moran)<\/p>\n
A similar reason compelled Emma McQueen to attend.<\/p>\n
“I feel like we have nothing in Tassie and it’s about time we got something to help build the revenue for everything else,” Ms McQueen said.<\/p>\n
Stadium project divisive<\/p>\n
The $1.13 billion multipurpose stadium to be built on Hobart’s waterfront has divided the state since it was first proposed.<\/p>\n
Yes or no? Hobart sits at the crossroad of two futures<\/a><\/p>\n Since its inception, the stadium project has divided the Hobart community in a tug of war between development and preservation of its historic waterfront. In just days, the door will shut forever on one side of the debate.<\/p>\n Its impact on Tasmania’s worsening debt position remains among the chief concerns.<\/p>\n Other concerns are its size, unanswered questions about public transport, and its cost.\u00a0<\/p>\n In September, the state’s planning commission released a scathing report<\/a> recommending the project not proceed, saying it was “too big for the site and the benefits it will bring are significantly outweighed by the disbenefits it creates”.<\/p>\n It cited economic, planning and heritage grounds among its reasons to not proceed.<\/p>\n Their recommendation was rejected by the state government, which described some of the panel’s concerns as “matters of opinion and choice”.<\/p>\n Premier Jeremy Rockliff said the report has “massively underestimated” the proposed precinct’s economic and social value.<\/p>\n An artist’s impression of the seating bowl at the proposed Macquarie Point stadium. (Supplied: MPDC)<\/p>\n The AFL has repeatedly stated that the construction of the $1.13 billion roofed stadium is a non-negotiable condition for the entry of the Tasmanian Devils team into the national competition<\/a>.<\/p>\n ‘Now or never’, supporters say<\/p>\n Daryl and Charlene Williams echoed a widely held sentiment that the stadium would help inspire future generations.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n