
ABOUT MAC POINT
Macquarie Point Development Corporation is a Tasmanian Government Agency and Statutory Authority that was established through the Macquarie Point Development Corporation Act 2012.
The Corporation was created to plan, facilitate and manage the remediation and redevelopment of the former Macquarie Point Railyards site, and encourage interim activity on-site while work progressing longer-term development.
Since European settlement, Mac Point has been the home of Southern Tasmania’s industrial needs. Over the past 200 years, Mac Point has been used as a farm, an abattoir, lumber yard, a gas works, cold store, goods storage, for heavy industry, rubbish disposal, the military, freight and rail has existed at Mac Point. Due to low levels of understanding of environmental protection at the time the site’s industrial users left significant pollution within the soil and groundwater.
The Corporation’s initial principal task has been to progress remediation. As a result of this work, the Corporation has:
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Undertaken nearly 2000 soil samples to map contamination
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Removed 67,000 tonnes of contaminated soil
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Removed 2.3 million litres of contaminated groundwater
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Removed almost 700 metres of contaminated diesel and gas pipelines
In addition to remediation, the Corporation has also undertaken archaeological digs and works to inform development and understand the history of the site. The Corporation is also making the land development ready through the installation of public access infrastructure – including stairs, road, walk and cycleways, and planning and laying of utilities.
The site is also a hub of activity, with community and commercial assets established and maintained on site by the Corporation. This includes the construction of LongHouse to create a space for social enterprises and other pop-ups; refurbishment of the Goods Sheds as a live events venue; establishing Red Square and supporting community uses on site; leasing and maintaining buildings on site; establishing and maintaining Australia’s largest edible garden, which is regularly used by a number of community groups; and the provision of 450 above ground car parks for Hobart commuters.