Stadium images fail to allay Cenotaph sight worries
Hobart’s planned waterfront stadium stands to “destroy” historic and valuable sight lines from the city’s Cenotaph, according to a peak veterans’ group.
Tasmania’s RSL branch said recently released renders from the proponent behind the 23,000-seat roofed stadium had not diminished its concerns.
Construction of the stadium at Macquarie Point is a condition of the Devils being granted entry to the AFL in 2028.
The national RSL in late July added its voice to the stadium debate, saying sight lines from the Cenotaph, the site of commemorations since 1919, would be destroyed.
State RSL head John Hardy said the organisation’s long-held opposition had not changed.
“Those sight lines were put in place … to remember areas of Hobart,” he said on Friday.
“The reason the Cenotaph is where it is, is because the troop ships, when they left Hobart, that is what they saw.”
Mr Hardy said the renders, which were requested by the RSL, didn’t include angles from important points.
The Macquarie Point Development Corporation, which is behind the $715 million stadium project, said the design had been informed by the history and character of the site.
Corporation CEO Anne Beach said of the five sight lines transacting the site, two would be partially impacted.
“The location of the stadium has been carefully selected so the sight lines run on each side of the structure, rather than through the middle of the stadium,” she said.
“The … stadium site will never impact views from the Cenotaph to the setting or rising sun, views up and down the River Derwent or across to the eastern shore.”
The state’s minority Liberal government signed the deal for the stadium, while Labor switched its position after the March state election to support the project.
State Veterans’ Affairs Minister Guy Barnett has acknowledged the RSL’s concerns, pledging ongoing engagement.
The Greens, who oppose the stadium, plan to table legislation to parliament to “protect” the values of the Cenotaph in law.
The stadium will be assessed by a project of state significance process, which the Greens claim bypasses proper planning consideration of the Cenotaph’s values.
Mr Hardy conceded it would be a “challenge” to get the legislation through parliament.
“(But) this isn’t about winning or losing. This is about a group of people doing what they believe is right,” he said.
“The sight lines are critical to telling the story. The Cenotaph will be changed … for the next 100 years.”
Mr Hardy said he planned to meet Labor next week before the legislation reaches parliament.
Labor leader Dean Winter told reporters the government hadn’t consulted enough with the RSL.
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