RSL Tasmania wants a museum, special naming of grandstands and a “recognition of service at the start of every event” as part of the Macquarie Point stadium precinct, should the project go ahead.
The organisation has made no secret of its opposition to the stadium, citing deep concerns that the 51-metre-high arena would “destroy and desecrate” sight lines from the neighbouring Hobart Cenotaph toward Battery Point and the mouth of the Derwent River.
But emails between RSL Tasmania chief executive John Hardy and the Office of the Minister of Veterans Affairs Guy Barnett — released via a right to information request — outline a series of requests described by Mr Hardy as “areas we think we should be working on”, as the RSL and government work to strike a compromise on the contentious build.
They include an on-site RSL museum, as well as naming of the grandstands “such as a Cenotaph end and veteran’s end”, and naming sections of the arena after Tasmanian Victoria Cross winners.
Mr Hardy has also requested veteran housing as part of the development, reduced rates of entry into the stadium for veterans, veteran employment opportunities, and “veteran-led” businesses being given food and beverage business priority.
There was also a request that “ANZAC day profits” go toward veteran services.
The requests were made to the government the day after the Tasmanian Greens released a consultation draft of their Hobart Cenotaph Bill, designed to prevent developments “adversely impacting the values of the Cenotaph”, which was drafted at the request of the RSL.
In an email to Veterans Affairs senior adviser Dean Young on August 14, Mr Hardy wrote:
“As you can see, the requests are based around commemoration, mateship and financing, and delivering much-needed Veteran Services which Tasmania is in much need of.”
The list of requests was formulated off the back of a meeting between Mr Hardy, Mr Barnett and Tasmanian Premier Jeremy Rockliff the previous week.
The Macquarie Point precinct plan. (Supplied: Macquarie Point Development Corporation)
Government ‘remains committed’ to working with RSL
Mr Hardy told the ABC that the RSL remained “100 per cent against” the Macquarie Point stadium, but it was willing to work with the Tasmanian government on compromises, should it be built.
“Compromise is the best way forward, but let’s not forget how we got here. There was no compromise,” Mr Hardy said.
“We can agree that we don’t like this, but if we’re going to have this, we have to have the best outcome.
“I think we do have a duty to ensure the veteran community gets the best outcome from whatever may come regardless of whether we agree with it or not.”
Mr Hardy has previously voiced his concern over the proposed stadium’s impact on sightlines to Hobart’s Cenotaph. (ABC News: Maren Preuss)
Recognition of veterans’ service before events ‘a fair request’, RSL boss says
Mr Hardy said a recognition of service before every event is a reasonable request.
“We’re not talking about an Australia-wide thing here, but we need to remember where [the stadium] is. It will be beside the Cenotaph,” he said.
“I think because of where it is, it would be a fair request. But it is only a request.”
It’s unclear how receptive the government would be to implementing any or all the requests.
In a reply to the requests, Mr Young told Mr Hardy that he would “pass on” the requests to the minister and “work on a way to keep moving forward”.
“The Tasmanian government remains committed to working closely with the RSL and the wider veteran community in the development of the Macquarie Point Precinct to ensure it honours and respects our veterans,” a government spokesperson said.
RSL continues to back alternative stadium bid
In May, Mr Hardy wrote to AFL chief executive Andrew Dillon expressing his concern over the Macquarie Point stadium plans and backing the alternate “Stadium 2.0” proposal.
The 2.0 proposal – which is headed by private proponent Dean Coleman, and former Labor premier Paul Lennon – would be located at nearby Regatta Point and includes an RSL museum.
Dean Coleman and former Labor premier Paul Lennon’s alternative stadium proposal includes an RSL museum. (Supplied)
It would require a significant public financial contribution, and currently does not have the support of the state and federal governments, or the AFL.
However, it has attracted some private interest and is being assessed by an independent panel as part of an unsolicited proposal bid.
In its current iteration, the 2.0 stadium plan features a 23,000-seat stadium built on reclaimed land on the River Derwent as well as a broader mixed-use precinct wrapping about the base of the Hobart Cenotaph.
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