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RSL says it has been ‘misled and misled’ over Tasmanian Government proposal for Macquarie Point Stadium

VaselineJuly 19, 2024

0 5 minutes read

RSL says it has been ‘misled and misled’ over Tasmanian Government proposal for Macquarie Point Stadium

In brief:

The chief executive of RSL Tasmania has written a letter to the state’s premier to “remind you of the historical, cultural and spiritual significance of the Hobart Landmark to the Tasmanian community”, in light of the construction of the proposed Macquarie Point Stadium near the site.

John Hardy wrote that the organization has been “scorned and misled in every way” by the government, the project management company and the architectural firm about the height of the stadium and how it will affect the view from the monument.

What’s next?

The head of the Macquarie Point Development Corporation said the stadium would “never impact on the views from the cenotaph to the setting or rising sun”. The RSL is calling for an alternative development for the stadium, at another location, to be developed.

RSL Tasmania is stepping up its fight against the proposed location of the planned Macquarie Point Stadium, with its CEO saying the organisation has been “disrespected and misled at every stage” over the eventual size of the arena and its impact on the view from the Hobart landmark.

In a letter to Tasmania’s Premier Jeremy Rockliff, John Hardy reminded you of the historical, cultural and spiritual significance of the Hobart Cenotaph to the Tasmanian community, particularly to returned and current servicemen and their families.

“Prime Minister, the essence of the monument is the sightlines. If you destroy these sightlines, you desecrate and degrade our sacred place. It is nothing more than paying lip service to that place.

John Hardy’s letter to the Prime Minister notes the “historical, cultural and spiritual significance of the Hobart Cenotaph to the community of Tasmania”.(ABC News: Maren Preuss)

According to Cox Architecture’s new proposal, the highest point of the stadium’s dome roof will be 54 metres high, or 59 metres above sea level. That’s almost as high as the 60-metre Tasman Bridge. The highest point, 22 metres, will tower 22 metres above the ground around the cenotaph.

Aerial photograph, concept of Macquarie Point Stadium, released July 2024.(Supplied: Tasmanian Government)

Mr Hardy wrote that “the cenotaph is a sacred place. RSL Tasmania cannot and will not stand by and do nothing”.

“No development should be permitted that would remove the Cenotaph from these sightlines, sightlines that have rightly been protected for decades by the Sullivans Cove Planning Scheme.”

“This is where we come together for Anzac Day. This is where we come together for Remembrance Day. This is where we come together to remember those who made the ultimate sacrifice. That’s why it’s sacred,” he said.

Mr Hardy went on to say that RSL Tasmania “has been misled and misled in every way, whether that be by (the Department of) State Growth, MPDC (Macquarie Point Development Corporation) or Cox Architecture. The former told us at our 2023 conference that the building would be no higher than 40 metres, whereas the latter told us in a meeting with us just six weeks ago that it would be six storeys”.

A potential obstacle for the stadium?

Sport and Events Minister Nic Street said he “understands” the RSL’s concerns and will continue to work with them.

“The stadium has been carefully positioned on the site to ensure it sits within the existing sightlines, ensuring that views of the Derwent River, sunrise and sunset and the eastern bank are not disrupted,” Mr Street said.

He said two of the five sightlines listed in the Sullivan’s Cove plan schedule were “partially impacted,” but “run along the edges of the stadium and early roof area, purposefully avoiding the center of the transparent dome roof.”

John Hardy, pictured here at the memorial in Hobart, says the stadium will block important sightlines.(ABC News: Maren Preuss)

Mr Hardy rejected suggestions that the design would fit into its surroundings, saying the cenotaph would be “completely dominated by an object that is 54 metres high and 96 metres away from it”.

He reiterated the organization’s support for the “Mac Point 2.0 proposal,” an alternative plan that would place a stadium slightly further north than Regatta Point.

“We are not saying that there should be no stadium, there are alternatives.

“Move the stadium 400 meters and everyone is happy, it’s a win-win situation.”

MPDC CEO Anne Beach said the RSL was informed on July 4 about the revamped design and location, which “has been carefully selected so that sightlines run on both sides of the structure, rather than through the centre of the stadium”.

“The location of Macquarie Point Stadium will never impact the views from the monument of the setting or rising sun, the views of the Derwent River or the eastern bank,” she said.

Why are sight lines so important?

The Sullivan’s Cove Planning Scheme protects a number of sightlines and important views around Hobart’s waterfront, and development must not ‘unreasonably affect’ these.

From the Cenotaph, that is to say to and from the forecourt of Parliament House, St George’s Church at Battery Point and the mouth of the Derwent River – the latter two being ‘partly affected’ by this project.

The Project of State Significance planning process applied to the stadium effectively overrides the Sullivan’s Cove plan, meaning it can be approved even if it blocks sightlines.

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Neither the government nor the MPDC have released official visualizations showing what the planned stadium would look like from the monument or what impact it would have on visibility.

In his letter, Mr John Hardy wrote: “As the Tasmanians were loading the troop ships in the harbour to my left, this was the last they would see, or the first and last they would see of their beautiful island state before they went off to war and perhaps never returned. This would be this height,” he said.

The Tasmanian Greens plan to introduce legislation to protect cenotaphs at the request of RSL Tasmania.

“The government cannot simply infringe on protected heritage values that are of crucial importance to the community,” said Vica Bayley, spokesperson for GroenLinks for Veterans Affairs, on Friday.

The development company’s chief executive says Macquarie Point Stadium “will never impact the views from the monument of the setting or rising sun, the views of the Derwent River or the eastern shore”.(ABC News: Maren Preuss)

Are all veterans against the stadium?

In an interview with ABC Radio Hobart, Mr Hardy said the RSL had been the target of aggression and abuse from supporters of the stadium.

“We were attacked as an organisation and words were used like ‘just get back to running your slot machines’… RSL Tasmania doesn’t have slot machines, we’ve done away with them,” he said.

“I’ve been attacked. It’s been said that I’m not even a veteran, but I am. And I find that quite insulting.”

Mr Hardy admitted that it was impossible for all ex-servicemen to agree with the organisation’s position, saying it was up to the sub-branches to consult with their members before voting in the state congress.

“We will not have said, and never have said, that we represent all returning servicemen and women in Tasmania, that is an impossibility. No one in the community represents everyone in the community,” he said.

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VaselineJuly 19, 2024

0 5 minutes read