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How tall will the multipurpose stadium be?A key design feature of the stadium has been to keep the edges of the structure to a low profile, informed by the surrounding built-form and natural landscapes. This is important for the street-level experience and how the stadium integrates with the spaces around it. The edges of the stadium are around 22 metres (25.5 metres RL / AHD*) compared to the Evans Street level which is around 3.5 metres RL. The structure has a fixed-dome roof, which at the highest point is 51 metres (54 metres RL), with an internal field height of 3 metres RL, which is similar to the current level of Evans Street. ​ For comparison, heights of nearby structures: Zero Davey 20 metres (22.5 metres RL) IXL Jam Factory 19 metres (22 metres RL) Hotel Grand Chancellor 47 metres (49 metres RL) Royal Hobart Hospital 68 metres (75 metres RL) ​ * RL means Relative Level and is a consistent measurement base comparing to sea level. AHD means Australian Height Datum, which is the height of a point above mean sea level.
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How have you assessed the visual impact of the stadium?SLR Consulting who are recognised as specialists in this field were commissioned to do a Visual Impact Assessment Report. The report assesses how the stadium will impact the characteristics of the site and broader area, the use and enjoyment of the space and views in and out of the site. It contains several images showing what the stadium is expected to look like from various viewpoints across Hobart and an assessment of the visual impact for each of those viewpoints. You can see what the stadium will look like from some of the viewpoints in some questions below, the remainder can be viewed in the report and additional information provided to the Tasmanian Planning Commission as part of the Project of State Significance Project.
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Will the stadium cast a shadow over the Hobart Cenotaph?No. The stadium is located to the south-east of the Cenotaph, which means it cannot cast a shadow over the Cenotaph or impact sunrise or sunset. The low-profile of the design will also minimise the shadow casting inside and outside of the stadium. More information is available here
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How will the stadium look standing at Constitution Dock?We are preparing a number of renders that will show how the stadium will look from various angles around the city, however, this early comparative image has been prioritised in response to requests.
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How will the stadium look from the Cenotaph?
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What will the roof be made from?The roof will be supported by an elegant steel and timber frame, with steel bracing at 20 metre intervals and structural timber cross beams at 5 metre intervals. This grid will be covered with ETFE (ethylene tetrafluoroethylene), which is transparent and will support natural turf growth underneath. There will be two layers of ETFE creating a series of pillow-like elements across the roof.
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How big is the roof?The transparent ETFE roof will span approximately 190 metres by 215 metres and will be the largest timber supported roof covering stadia in the world.
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Can the stadium support cricket?Yes, we’re excited about the opportunities the multipurpose stadium will present for international cricket. Our modelling has used Hawk Eye data to accommodate cricket ball trajectory and includes important requirements unique to cricket including practice wickets and media facilities. We’ll continue to work with Cricket Tasmania and Cricket Australia to seek accreditation of our stadium once built.
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Can it support other types of events?Our stadium includes a 1,500 person seated function room with spaces to support meetings and collaboration areas. It is a fully enclosed venue supporting a range of events, exhibitions and conferences, with vehicle and pedestrian access to a concourse that wraps around the full facility and the field.
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What about non-event days?The stadium will be part of an activated mixed-use precinct. Find out more about our whole of site Precinct Plan here
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What will happen to the Goods Shed?The Goods Shed will remain part of Mac Point. We are planning to relocate the Goods Shed to the north of the site to where a shed of similar scale was situated when the site formed part of the Hobart Rail Yard. We will continue to honour the history of the building and align it with the original rail lines, and support ongoing community activation, as is the case now. More information is available here
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Can the ground at Macquarie Point support a stadium?Yes. Despite a lot of the Mac Point site being created from reclaimed land over its years of European settlement and industrial use, the site is characterised by four distinct geological units: fill, estuarine, alluvial and dolerite bedrock. More information is available here.
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Where in Hobart will you be able to see the stadium from?The below image shows public areas where the stadium is likely to be visible from (highlighted in yellow) for most people who are standing at ground level. To note at points above 1.8m it may be visible from additional locations.
Key Information
Transport We are planning our site to provide choices about how you can arrive and depart on event days, and every day. This includes setting targets to encourage public and active transport options. Our targets are based on best practice for moving large volumes of people to and from major events.
Sun and Shadowing As part of our design, comprehensive solar studies have been conducted to evaluate the stadium’s impact on nearby streets, properties, and the surrounding precinct. These studies included diagrams showing overshadowing conditions at 9 a.m. 12 p.m. and 3 p.m. during the Spring Equinox and the Winter and Summer Solstices. The analysis compared current shadow patterns at the site with those that would result from the proposed stadium and future developments. The stadium’s design features a transparent dome that has a low profile at the edges of the building and peaks over the center of the sports field, minimising shadowing impact on surrounding spaces. The dome’s gently sloping nature ensures that the bulk of the shadow falls underneath the stadium, aligning with the rear of the stands. This design limits the extent to which shadows are cast beyond the stadium’s boundaries. The north-eastern plaza: experiences minimal shadowing from the stadium year-round. The north-western plaza: sees little shadowing from the stadium or the relocated Goods Shed, but is subject to some afternoon overshadowing due to future developments in the area. The south-western plaza and Aboriginal Culturally Informed Zone: enjoy full sun from midday through the afternoon all year long. Evans Street: remains mostly unaffected in December, but begins to experience some shadowing after midday in March, and throughout the day in June. The south-eastern plaza: faces minor overshadowing in the morning during December and March but receives considerable shadow in June during early morning and late afternoon, with good sunlight access at midday. During the Winter Solstice, a small portion of the Davey Street walkway and the north-eastern side of Evans Street are in shadow at 9 a.m. with shadows retreating by midday. By 3 p.m. shadows are mostly confined to the development site. At the Spring Equinox, a small section of Davey and Evans Streets is in shadow at 9 a.m. but the shadow diminishes by midday. In the Summer Solstice, no shadowing occurs outside the stadium site. The overall impact of the stadium’s shadow is minor, particularly given the scale of the building, and it rarely extends beyond the development boundaries. Importantly, under no circumstance will the stadium or its surrounding structures cast shadows on the Cenotaph or the surrounding landscape, preserving the integrity of the site and ensuring the uninterrupted rising and setting of the sun for commemorative events.
Geotechnical Investigations There have been extensive geotechnical investigations at Macquarie Point over the last 10 years. Most recently we appointed WSP Australia to review over 700 existing borehole records and carry out additional tests to add to this data set. Latest Investigations: Drilled 20 new boreholes (2.7m to 28.82m deep), with 16 for geotechnical purposes and 4 to inform an acid sulfate analysis. Conducted 17 cone penetration tests (CPT) to measure soil properties, with depths from 1.46m to 11.2m. Collected rock and soil samples for lab testing, including soil chemistry, moisture content and rock strength. Site Conditions: The site is divided into three zones: Northern Zone: Mostly loose fill over dolerite rock due to past quarrying. Central Zone: Flat dolerite with estuarine deposits and fill. Southern Zone: Deeper fill and alluvial deposits shaped by ancient river channels. Key ground layers include: Fill: Loose, unstructured material. Estuarine and Alluvial Deposits: Layers of sand, gravel and clay. Dolerite Rock: Hard rock that varies in weathering. The data we have collected has been consolidated into a 3D model. These geotechnical investigations will help inform development across the site, including the Multipurpose Stadium.