3 October 2024.
‘Like the TSO, the Tasmania Devils will be a high-performance team that’s a source of immense pride for Tasmania. The Devils need a purpose-built stadium, just as our orchestra needs its purpose-built concert hall, recording and broadcast facilities,’ TSO chief executive officer Caroline Sharpen says.
But the orchestra is calling for a ‘common sense rethink’ of the stadium’s proposed location, which would sacrifice too many of the landmarks the state has worked hard to achieve and preserve.
‘We’re certain there must be a less terrible location for our new stadium. Tasmania is one of the least densely built-up corners of the world. Surely, there is a spot that does not compromise our state concert hall, our Cenotaph and war memorial, and the famous maritime heritage of our waterfront,’ Ms Sharpen says.
‘We’ve done a lot of searching and we’re yet to find another example of a government anywhere in the world prepared to build a 23,000-seat stadium 170m from the perimeter of their state performing arts centre,’ she adds.
Concerns about the impact of the stadium location on the orchestra’s viability appear to have fallen on deaf ears, despite the TSO’s extensive participation through official channels and POSS processes.
‘There is no precedent for a large national-grade stadium and a concert hall. It’s a situation not contemplated by any cultural jurisdiction in the world. And, despite our best endeavours, we remain unprotected by any legislation governing noise emissions. The proponent’s own noise and vibration assessment submitted to the Tasmanian Planning Commission notes that Tasmania has “no governing policy related to noise emissions from stadia, including concerts and sporting events”,’’ Ms Sharpen says.
‘We’ve exhausted our official options and now we’re asking the Tasmanian community to stand with us in calling for a better option for our new stadium,’ Ms Sharpen says.
TSO musicians will perform at a Cenotaph vigil from 10:30am on 10 November 2024. The Cenotaph is soon to celebrate a century of overlooking Hobart and its surroundings, and the TSO is looking forward to joining with RSL Tasmania and the community to celebrate this important monument and place.
‘We’re a creative, resourceful and dogged state. Let’s build something great for our Devils and let’s protect our treasured state assets around Mac Point.’
The TSO is recognised as one of the world’s great small orchestras and one of Australia’s premier cultural exports. It is the most recorded, broadcast, filmed and streamed orchestra in Australia, with its performances and recordings heard throughout the world.
From its home on Hobart’s waterfront in the Federation Concert Hall, the TSO performs hundreds of concerts and events across Tasmania and reaches millions of listeners annually via radio, recordings and streaming.
Find out how you can help protect your precious state assets: Federation Concert Hall, the Cenotaph and war memorial and our maritime heritage precinct.
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