Hobart stadium developer not supportive of waterfront precinct proposal

New residential proposal at Hobart's regatta grounds not supported by stadium developer Fri 26 Jun 2026 at 3:58pm In short: A proposal for apartments and an underground car park on Hobart's waterfront has drawn criticism from neighbouring Macquarie Point stadium developer. Regatta Quay Precinct says its urban activation design is derived from a previous Stadium 2.0 proposal. What's next? Hobart City councillors will decide on Monday whether they want to be briefed about the proposal. The developer of Hobart's new multipurpose stadium has said a proposal to build apartments and retail spaces neighbouring its Macquarie Point site does not align with the precinct's broader master plan. On Thursday, Tasmanian engineer Dean Coleman announced plans to build 220 apartments with an underground car park with 3,200 spots at Regatta Point, under the banner Regatta Quay Precinct (RQP). "This proposal seeks to address long-standing parking and transport challenges while supporting broader precinct activation through private investment,"a RQP spokesperson said. The group's plan was derived from its earlier Stadium 2.0 concept, a roofed stadium built on reclaimed land on the River Derwent, produced as an alternative to the Tasmanian government-approved stadium design put forward by the Macquarie Point Development Corporation (MPDC). At the time, the government deemed Stadium 2.0 to be too expensive and difficult to engineer. The MPDC is the Tasmanian government body in charge of developing Macquarie Point. It released a master plan for the precinct in 2024, which included a new 23,000-seat stadium and residential housing at Regatta Point. Stadium provider not supportive A spokesperson for the MPDC said the group had not received any requests 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,"they said. They said the plan has always been for a private company to develop the housing at Regatta Point, which they would look to secure after updating the planning scheme. The RQP spokesperson said its proposal was intentionally explored as an alternative approach to the foreshore, to "better support the city of Hobart". "It is a concept for discussion and refinement, not a final development application,"they said. "We do replace the MPDC apartment buildings and cover off their requirements fully, but also introduce affordable and social housing. "The new RQP Team are largely the original Stadium 2.0 team but has been refined in some areas due to the reduced project size and expanded in others … to allow the optimum service solution for all Tasmanians." In appraising the plan, the MPDC has identified a number of issues with the proposal, which crosses over the pathway for the northern access road, an integral part of the precinct plan to ensure the Port of Hobart remain connected to the main roads, and to streamline event-day transport. The RQP spokesperson said its plan included an alternative route for the northern road, which would run from McVilly Drive through the car park and onto the main road. "The intent is to integrate, rather than prevent, future transport connections while minimising visual impacts," they said. The MPDC said the proposal would also need to consider the location of Aboriginal heritage in the area, and sight lines to the rising sun from the cenotaph. "Those are critical considerations and have not been overlooked," the RQP spokesperson said. Hobart City councillors will vote on Monday night on whether they want to be briefed by the proponents and given more information. "Should council determine there is merit in advancing the proposal, consultation with the MPDC and all relevant stakeholders would form part of the next phase," the RQP spokesperson said.