The proposed $70 million AFL High Performance Centre in Tasmania’s Rosny faces an uncertain future with an ongoing elector poll allowing City of Clarence residents to vote on whether the proposed sites should remain parklands or be repurposed as football training grounds.
In May 2023, the Tasmanian government signed a deal with the AFL to create a Tasmanian AFL and AFLW Club, set to join the leagues and start competing in 2028. According to Tasmania Infrastructure, the AFL High Performance Centre will be the teams’ training base and will “play an important role in setting the club up for success from the outset.”
Populous was appointed to design the centre, while Rosny Parklands and Charles Hand Park were selected as the preferred sites. The main training ground has been proposed for the southern end of the Rosny Parklands, with a second oval to be built at Charles Hand Park.
In July 2024, a $200,000 elector poll was opened, providing community members the opportunity to vote on whether the sites should remain publicly owned parklands. The poll was launched after a petition opposing the development site, containing more than 1,000 signatures, was lodged with the Clarence City Council. The poll will remain open until 8 August 2024.
Concurrently, the state government is seeking tenders for surveying services to determine the scope of work required on the proposed sites.
If approved, the grounds will be used for community recreation, as well as elite athlete training. The final design is expected to comprise a full-sized oval, grass training spaces, a 9,000 square metre building, indoor training amenities, areas for strength and conditioning, locker rooms, medical facilities, administrative offices, parking, and community accessibility.
Tasmania Infrastructure anticipates that the facility will be ready to use in 2026.
Source: Architecture - architectureau
