A plan to build hundreds of apartments and a large underground car park next to Hobart’s new stadium has drawn a cold response from the government body developing the Macquarie Point precinct.
Tasmanian engineer Dean Coleman announced the Regatta Quay Precinct (RQP) proposal on Thursday, pitching 220 apartments — including social and affordable housing — alongside 3,200 underground parking spots at Regatta Point, the ABC reported.
The Macquarie Point Development Corporation (MPDC), the Tasmanian government body overseeing the precinct, said it had received no formal approach from the RQP group. “From the images and information published, the proposal does not appear to align with the precinct plan and the footprint of the development for the residential foreshore,” an MPDC spokesperson said.
The RQP plan grew out of the earlier Stadium 2.0 concept, which proposed a roofed stadium on reclaimed land in the River Derwent as an alternative to the government-approved design. The Tasmanian government rejected that concept as too expensive and difficult to engineer. The RQP team says its latest proposal is privately funded and is intended to “better support the city of Hobart” by addressing parking and transport gaps while adding affordable housing to the foreshore.
The MPDC raised several concerns beyond the clash with its own housing footprint, including the RQP proposal’s impact on a planned northern access road needed to keep the Port of Hobart connected to main roads during events. The corporation also noted the proposal would need to account for Aboriginal heritage in the area and sight lines to the rising sun from the cenotaph. RQP says its design includes an alternative road route and that those heritage and sight-line considerations have not been overlooked.
Hobart City councillors will vote Monday night on whether to receive a formal briefing from the RQP proponents. For tradies and construction businesses watching the Macquarie Point project, the outcome could affect the shape, timing, and scope of work on offer at the site.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Regatta Quay Precinct proposal?
It is a privately funded plan put forward by Tasmanian engineer Dean Coleman that includes 220 apartments — with social and affordable housing — and 3,200 underground parking spaces at Regatta Point, next to the approved Macquarie Point stadium site.
Why has the MPDC rejected the proposal?
The Macquarie Point Development Corporation says the proposal doesn’t align with the approved precinct master plan, conflicts with the residential foreshore footprint, and raises concerns about access roads, Aboriginal heritage, and sight lines from the cenotaph.
What happens next with the proposal?
Hobart City councillors are due to vote Monday night on whether to receive a formal briefing from the RQP proponents, which would give the proposal a more official hearing at the council level.
How does this affect construction work at Macquarie Point?
If the RQP proposal gains traction, it could alter the shape, timing, and scope of construction work available at the precinct, though the MPDC-approved master plan remains the current framework.
Sourced from ABC News. Original article.
