The proposed AFL stadium at Hobart’s Macquarie Point is projected to incur maintenance and upkeep costs exceeding $171 million over 30 years, as revealed in newly obtained documents from the Macquarie Point Development Corporation. This figure includes $62 million for maintaining the stadium’s translucent roof. The detailed documents, released under right-to-information laws, provide a deeper insight into the long-term financial commitments, overshadowing earlier public estimates. The stadium’s current construction estimate stands at $775 million, with projected lifecycle costs elevating total expenses significantly.
The report also outlines potential financial impacts caused by construction delays, consulting fees, and additional lifecycle expenses, such as façade and electrical costs. Notably, a 12-month delay could inflate costs by $82 million. The Macquarie Point Development Corporation is exploring private sector investment partnerships to offset these costs, akin to the Optus Stadium model used in Perth. The Tasmanian government, maintaining a promise to cap its expenditure at $375 million, is considering a design, build, finance, and maintain approach for the project.
Premier Jeremy Rockliff has reassured that negotiations are ongoing to ensure the project remains fiscally responsible. Meanwhile, economist reports critique the stadium’s financial viability, suggesting a potential shortfall in cost-efficiency, prompting calls for transparent and rigorous financial management. The government continues to face pressure to renegotiate terms with the AFL and ensure that the stadium project benefits Tasmanian taxpayers while attracting significant economic and recreational returns.
