Image Credit: Department of State Growth and Populous

UPDATE

The survey has now closed with a high level of community interest and participation and 959 surveys were completed over the four weeks making this consultation one of the most contributed to from residents right across Clarence. Thank you to everyone who contributed through the survey, in conversations and by providing submissions, all of the contributions are appreciated. There were differing views towards the advantages and disadvantages of the proposal and the consultation report shares details of all the feedback that was received. The community feedback helped inform Councilor's decision.

Council Decision:

Clarence City Council voted to endorse a proposed submission for an AFL High Performance Centre in Clarence at Council meeting on Monday 11 December. Council’s submission to the Tasmanian Government proposed a preferred option being for Charles Hand Park to accommodate the High Performance Centre’s primary oval, training and administration buildings and associated infrastructure, with a second oval to be located in the Rosny Parklands. A secondary option will be listed in the report for Rosny Parklands to accommodate the High Performance Centre’s primary oval, training and administration buildings and associated infrastructure, with a second oval to be located in Charles Hand Park – a mirror image of the preferred option.

The initial concept designs for the two options included in Council’s submission to the Tasmanian Government can be found in the documents folder or here. These are indicative concepts and are subject to change. ‘Concept option 1’ is Council’s preferred option.

Next steps:

A decision by the Tasmanian Government on the location of the AFL/AFLW High Performance Centre is expected to be made before the end of 2023 on the location of the centre, and detailed planning will start soon after that decision.

An announcement was made on the 22 December 2023 that the preference is to locate High Performance Centre in Rosny. There will be more details and designs to come in the New Year.

We will keep updating council Your Say page as decisions are made on this and more details are available.


Background

Councils across Greater Hobart have been in early discussions with representatives of the Department of State Growth as site options for the ALF/AFLW High Performance Centre are starting to be considered.

The benefits and risks are likely to differ site to site.

General benefits that are expected for any site:

  • Upfront and ongoing investment for the preferred site.
  • Potential economic benefits from the staff, players and visitors coming to the area.

General risks and potential issues highlighted as possible for any site:

  • Potential for a reduction in community access and community use of the site.
  • Potential displacement of existing community sports or uses.
  • Opportunity costs associated with ideas or plans for sites being changed.

Clarence City Council has been asked to seek community feedback to gain an understanding of Clarence community views about having an AFL/AFLW High Performance Centre:

(a) in Clarence generally,

(b) fully located at the Rosny Parklands (formerly Rosny Golf Course),

(c) at dual sites located at Rosny Parkland and Charles Hand Park, and

(d) at other sites within the city that may be identified as suitable for the purpose.

Even at this very early stage, it is clear that the identified sites and any other potential sites will offer benefits as well as risks and opportunity costs that will need to be better understood from the perspective of our Clarence community. Rosny Parklands has some significant site-specific constraints (including the steepness of some of the site and flood risks) that will also need to be considered alongside the community feedback.

This consultation will occur as an extra stage of City Heart Plan consultation - sitting between the Key Concept engagement and Stage 5 (which was expected to be the next step). This new stage will be focused exclusively on Rosny Parklands and on the idea for an AFL High Performance Centre. It will also canvass overall support for Clarence to be the home of the AFL/AFLW team.

The Clarence community has already responded positively to the City Heart ideas for significant changes to the former golf course and Charles Hand Park (read report here or in the document library), and this feedback will sit alongside this consultation.


Purpose

The key purpose of the community engagement is to provide council with a strong understanding of how the Clarence community feels about having an AFL/ALFW High Performance Centre in our city. This will help inform key future decisions.

It will be important to consider the interest in a High Performance Centre against the recent City Heart consultation. We received strong interest in making changes to the parklands and all the new ideas received support with 7 in 10 saying the changes would increase use of the areas. The consultation report can be found in the documents folder or click here. The community expressed support for changes that include everything from a Wild Park to turn fairways into a nature walk to an active park with playing surfaces and affordable housing on Charles Hand Park.


How to be involved and have your say (now closed)

Please let us know what you think between 10 October and 7 November 2023.

There are different ways to share what you think:

  • Tell us what you think by filling in the short survey below
  • Provide a written submission to yoursay@ccc.tas.gov.au
  • Pop up intercept conversations. Tell us face to face what you think at the Paint Party Run event on Saturday 1 November 2023 from 1-4.30pm. Community Feedback will be located next to the registration tent in the Rosny Parklands (formerly Rosny Golf Course).


Where can I find out more?

The project page (AFL/AFLW High Performance Centre - City of Clarence : City of Clarence (ccc.tas.gov.au)) now has an extensive list of answers to community questions and is updated as we have new information to share.

The following FAQs that may be of interest can be found here:

  • What will the High Performance Centre look like?

  • How will the High Performance Centre fit into the Rosny Parklands and Charles Hand Park?

  • How will the High Performance Centre work with the council’s City Heart Plan?

  • What level of community use will be granted to the High Performance Centre ovals?

  • Is public land being sold to house the High Performance Centre?

  • Is Council leasing the land for $1?

  • Is council paying for, or subsidising the building of the High Performance Centre?

  • What was the consultation process with the Clarence community?

  • Will the High Performance Centre create noise?

  • Will the High Performance Centre cause an increase in traffic?

  • What does this mean for the Rosny Skate Park, Tennis Club and Rosny College?

  • Were other sites considered?

  • Why wasn’t Blundstone Arena sufficient as a High Performance Centre?


Where else can I find out more?

The Department of State Growth has provided detailed information on their website that provides answers to many of the questions you may have. This site will be updated as this project progresses.

AFL High Performance Centre | Department of State Growth

In May 2023, the Tasmanian Government signed the AFL Agreement to establish a Tasmanian AFL and AFLW Club. The Tasmanian teams will join the AFL and AFLW competitions from 2028.

The Tasmanian AFL High Performance Centre will be the home of the Tasmanian Club and will play an important role in setting the Club up for success from the outset.

The vision for the High Performance Centre is to provide the players, coaches and administrators with every opportunity to be successful, both on and off the field.

The facility will be built close to Hobart and will be able to be used for community purposes and by Tasmanian elite athletes.

It is anticipated the facility will be ready to use in 2026 as the teams prepare for the 2028 AFL and AFLW seasons.

The Tasmanian Government has committed up to $60 million for the facility, with a further $10 million from the AFL (the following topics are links to the Department of State Growth website):

Image Credit: Department of State Growth and Populous