It’s been argued about for years but now a development application for Hobart's proposed AFL stadium has been formally lodged with the Tasmanian planning commission. It’s a major milestone on the path towards cementing the Tasmania Devils into the AFL. The submission details every aspect of the project - including the stadium's cost and economic impact. And new images provide a more comprehensive understanding of the stadium's visual impact on the city for decades to come.
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00:00Seven months in the making and weighing in at more than 4,000 pages, this is the document
00:08that will make or break the Macquarie Point Stadium project.
00:12I think what we have shown is we have a really strong case here, we've answered all the questions
00:16that people have.
00:17From detailed architectural drawings and new sightline images to fresh economic modelling
00:23and even cricket ball height analysis, no stone left unturned in Macquarie Point Stadium
00:29submission to the Tasmanian Planning Commission.
00:31There's been a revision in overall cost, up from $715 to $775 million, but that figure
00:40is flexible according to the proponents.
00:43This is presented at $775 million and that's for planning approval and we'll work through
00:48a scoping and value management exercise to bring it to budget for delivery.
00:52Despite a $60 million cost escalation, the state government remains adamant its funding
00:57contribution is hard capped at $375 million.
01:02Informal discussions have been held with private investors whose funds are set to cover
01:06any shortfall.
01:07I'm absolutely confident that from the interest that we've had that any shortfall will be
01:13covered absolutely, more so.
01:15The Greens remain strongly opposed to the project, insisting the new costings are wrong.
01:22Tasmanians know that it will go further.
01:24No one believes that this stadium can be built for anything less than a billion dollars.
01:30Federal funds for the broader precinct have been approved, but not yet released.
01:34There are a series of milestones that are part of the agreement.
01:38This was one of the first ones.
01:39The submission of the document now kicks off the project of state significance process,
01:43the stadium to be scrutinised by a panel of six, which could take up to 12 months.
01:49It's a process that's been described as where projects go to die.
01:53Only two of five previous applications have won approval, meaning the stadium will need
01:58to defy history.
01:59We're really confident we've got a really strong case.
02:01Even with approval by the Planning Commission, the stadium will still need to pass both Houses
02:06of Parliament.