Tasmania’s Waterfront Stadium Costs Surge Near $1 Billion as Legislation Gets Fast-Tracked

The price tag for Tasmania’s long-awaited waterfront stadium has ballooned to nearly $1 billion, fueling renewed debate over the ambitious project. The island state’s Liberal government on Tuesday introduced legislation designed to accelerate approvals for the controversial venue, which is a mandatory condition for an AFL team to be based in Tasmania.

Located at Macquarie Point in Hobart, the 23,000-seat roofed stadium is a key part of the Tasmania Devils’ bid to join the AFL in 2028. Its current estimated cost stands at $945 million, a sharp rise from the previous estimate of $755 million and the original figure of $715 million.

Business and Industry Minister Eric Abetz explained that the increased budget aims to “better cater for a wide range of planned uses,” including cricket. The additional expenses cover detailed fit-outs such as audio-visual systems, communications, kitchens, and food and beverage areas.

Cricket Australia has raised concerns about the stadium’s roof design, particularly regarding shadows that could impede daylight cricket. The governing body states that the current design makes it impossible to play daylight cricket under the existing shadow cast on the field. Despite ongoing discussions, no practical mitigation measures have yet been finalized, though officials plan to set up test rigs based on how other venues manage shadows.

The remaining $300 million of the project will come from state borrowings. Supported by both Liberal and Labor opposition members, the fast-tracked legislation is expected to pass the lower house in the coming months. However, approval in the upper house remains uncertain since the government lacks the necessary votes and must secure support from several independent MPs, many of whom have expressed reservations or outright opposition to the stadium.

Premier Jeremy Rockliff has reaffirmed that Tasmania will not have an AFL team unless the stadium is constructed. Yet, a recent planning report warned that the venue could be “overbearing” and leave Tasmania with an additional $1.86 billion in debt after ten years of operation.

Despite these concerns, Minister Abetz stated that the government has addressed the issues raised and is committed to meeting the October 2027 deadline to ensure the stadium is ready for the 2029 AFL season.