A majority liberal government will:
- Establish the Stadiums Tasmania Trust within the first six months of forming government to oversee the development and management of major stadiums across the State to maximise economic and community benefit for Tasmania.
- Subject to negotiations with local government owners, include Blundstone Arena and UTAS Stadium within the Stadiums Tasmania Trust, alongside State-owned assets, the Derwent Entertainment Centre and the Silverdome.
- Enable the Trust to be responsible for the management of stadium assets into the future, including revenues and expenditures, with capacity to borrow funds for stadium upgrades and developments including:
- Legislate to define the powers and governance of the Trust and the creation of a skills-based board which reports to the Premier and Minister for Sport.
- Within 100 days of being re-elected, commence formal discussions with the establishment of Stadiums Tasmania Trust with the City of Launceston (for UTAS Stadium) and the Clarence City Council (for Blundstone Arena).
- Ensure that central to the responsibilities of the Trust is the optimal use of our stadiums for national events, but also for community use.
- Pursuing a major $200 million upgrade of the UTAS stadium in Launceston, including the establishment of rectangular stadium functionalilty and an indoor basketball/netball centre.
- Undertake immediate major development works at UTAS Stadium of $65 million, with the remaining funding to be sought from the Australian Government.
- Undertaking immediate works required at Blundstone Arena, including new sight screens and gate access of $6 million.
- Undertaking immediate upgrading of the Silverdome, of $5 million, to commence the establishment of a four-court indoor netball stadium.
- Determining the feasibility and appropriate location in the south for a new rectangular stadium.
The Tasmanian Liberal Government believes Tasmania deserves to have its own Tasmanian teams in national competitions.
Already we have a strong representation at the national level, through cricket and hockey, and significant progress has been made by this Government to secure our place on the national stage in basketball (NBL), AFL, Football and Netball.
We have secured a new basketball team, the JackJumpers, to start in the National Basketball League later this year with home games to be played at a redeveloped Derwent Entertainment Centre.
Netball Tasmania has announced its intention to apply for a licence to compete in the Super League Netball - the strongest netball competition in the world. The Government supports this objective and it is understood the bid will be lodged shortly.
The AFL has agreed with the Government’s request for an independent review of the business case for our own team take place immediately and this is now underway led by highly regarded Mr Colin Carter. The results of that independent review will be made available in the middle of this year which will provide us the clarity we need to make the arrangements for AFL content in the coming 2022 season.
AFL club presidents will be afforded the opportunity to consider the consultant’s review once the season concludes, prior to a final decision being made on our entry to the national competition.
Positive discussions for an A-League Football team are also continuing and we remain confident that we will be able to secure our own team in the A-League in coming years and support the need for rectangular stadium facilities in the State to support football, rugby and other sports that require a rectangular stadium.
Providing pathways for people to compete at the highest level in truly Tasmanian teams will stimulate greater grassroots sporting participation that contributes toward a more active and healthier Tasmanian population.
With the establishment over time of additional Tasmanian teams in national competitions, there is a need to ensure that venues are fit for purpose for competition and training purposes.
Importantly, we also need to continue to invest in facilities that will enable Tasmania to secure national and international events.
It is estimated that over the next 10 years we will need to commit up to half a billion dollars on stadium upgrades.
The Tasmanian Liberals recognise that the cost of providing and developing national-standard stadiums has become an increasing burden on local government.
In other jurisdictions, the development and management of large stadium assets is typically undertaken by a Government Board of Management or a Trust.
This approach allows for greater flexibility to enable strategic development of venues to be delivered without the financial constraints that Councils may experience.
The Tasmanian Liberal Government continues to invest in transformational infrastructure projects that will provide long lasting, generational benefits.
This is evidenced by our significant investment in hospitals, schools, roads, bridges and ports and now, includes today’s announcement of a significant investment in sport and recreational infrastructure
A re-elected Majority Liberal Government will establish the Stadiums Trust
The establishment of the Stadiums Tasmania Trust, by legislation, will help oversee the development and management of the venues and land owned by the State.
The Trust Board will be made up of people with experience and a specific skill set in planning, developing and managing national standard sporting facilities and will need to demonstrate success in doing so.
The functions of the Trust will be to:
- Plan, maintain, develop and manage the Trust assets and establish funding priorities.
- Determine the feasibility of one of the major outdoor stadiums being further developed to enable a roof to be installed.
- Pursue the development of the estimated $200 million UTAS stadium upgrade, including rectangular stadium functionality, and indoor basketball/netball centre as per the plans developed by the Launceston City Council.
- Determine the feasibility of and identify an appropriate location in the south of the state for a new rectangular stadium.
- Identify sporting assets that with development could provide greater regional benefits and access and may benefit from transfer into the Trust structure with a particular focus on the North-West region.
- Promote the venues and facilitate alignment of stakeholder objectives.
- Increase the utilisation of the Trust assets and oversee the attraction of premium sporting and entertainment content across the portfolio of venues.
- Be responsible for the care, improvement, use and promotion of the Trust assets as facilities for sports, recreation and entertainment and related social and other activities.
- Responsible for the financial management of Trust assets.
- The Trust will establish a framework to allow for the inclusion of other sporting assets as deemed appropriate.
Costings:
The total annual cost of the Authority is estimated to be $5 million.