Stadiums Tasmania is expected to assume responsibility for up to four stadiums initially.
Stadiums Tasmania was set up earlier this year to centralise the ownership, management, and future development of the state's
The authority will take responsibility for up to five venues across Tasmania, including the state government-owned Silverdome and MyState Bank Arena.
Transfer negotiations for Bellerive Oval, Dial Park and UTAS Stadium are ongoing, however, Hospitality and Events Minister Nic Street said talks with City of Launceston regarding the latter were "well-advanced".
City of Launceston mayor Albert Van Zetten said he expected the transfer would occur before 2023.
"Council will continue to operate and manage UTAS Stadium until such time as both parties mutually agree to an official transfer, which we expect to happen later this year," Cr Van Zetten said.
"All council staff currently employed at UTAS Stadium will have the opportunity to transfer to the new entity."
Several "minor amendments" to the Stadiums Tasmania Act 2022 are required before any transfer can take place.
Minister Street said the amendments were in their final stages of development and would be put to parliament shortly.
Behind the scenes, a recruitment firm is putting together the inaugural Stadiums Tasmania board.
Recruitment for board members begins on Tuesday, while the search for a chief executive is likely to begin in October.
Minister Street said there has been strong interest in the chairperson role, for which applications have closed.
"At the present time we are awaiting recommendations from our executive recruitment firm on the applications and shortlisting," Minister Street said.
"However I can confirm a number of high-quality candidates have expressed an interest in the position."
Meanwhile, news regarding Tasmania's bid for an AFL team is expected in the coming days.
AFL chief executive Gillon McLachlan said last week that the league would meet with club presidents about Tasmania's bid by Tuesday at the latest.
Mr McLachlan has maintained that a new purpose-built stadium would be required in the state should a 19th licence be issued.
It is understood such a stadium won't be part of the plans submitted to AFL club presidents, however, the state government has committed to a $1.25 million feasibility study into a new stadium.
AFL IN TASMANIA
THE time has come for the state government to wipe its hands of AFL footy in the state.
AFL boss Gillon McLachlan states a new stadium must be built before a licence is given to Tasmania.
That is blackmail. There is no mention of it putting in any money as it did to the reconstruction of Carrera/Metricon in Queensland.
As for the other issue of a roof, so why one here? Why not Metricon or Optus stadiums?
There are only 40 roofed stadiums in the world but we have to have one.
Then the new stadium has to seat 27,000 people. How hard it is to upgrade UTAS Stadium from 22,000 to 27,000?
Then there is the issue of where football will be played. There is no way known the game will be split between the two centres.
With a stadium costing $750 million-plus, even blind Freddy can see all the games will be played in Hobart.
The average attendance there is only 9000 people.
I think the time has come to pull the pin on this venture for two reasons.
One is I believe the state can't afford it because the AFL will put very little money into the state.
STADIUM BULLYING TACTICS
I HAVE been a football volunteer in Tasmania for 47 years and absolutely love the game, but I just can't sit in silence and watch the AFL bully Tasmanian footy.
I would love to see Tassie playing in the AFL, but to ask our small state to spend $750 million on a stadium is ridiculous.
The two stadiums we have here are more than capable of holding great games and great crowds, which we have proved since Hawthorn came to Tassie.
We sit here and watch. Richmond and Port Adelaide only get a crowd of 21,500 at the MCG, with Richmond being the biggest member base team in Victoria.
We don't have the population to require a huge stadium. Build another hospital and look after the whole population.
PUT HOMELESS FIRST PLEASE
WHY is our government putting money into an AFL team and another stadium when there are people living in tents in church grounds and on the side of the highway?
FACT SHEET
Stadiums Tasmania Amendment (Transfers) Bill 2022
In April 2021, the Tasmanian Government announced plans to establish Stadiums Tasmania, a new statutory authority to oversee the sound use, management and future capital development of Tasmania’s major public stadiums and related assets.
The decision to establish Stadiums Tasmania aims to centralise the ownership, management, and future capital development of Tasmania’s major stadium assets under a single entity with a statewide perspective.
It will ensure the effective and efficient operation of these assets, that they remain fit for purpose, continue to meet the future needs of sporting codes, users, and event audiences, and further develop staff expertise in stadium management.
The Stadiums Tasmania Act 2022 was developed in response to this commitment. It commenced on 25 May 2022 and Stadiums Tasmania was formally established.
This Act establishes the functions, powers and governance arrangements for Stadiums Tasmania to operate. The Transfer Bill primarily provides employment arrangements for the new Statutory Authority and provisions to facilitate the transfer of current and future stadium assets, liabilities, contracts, and employees.
Stadiums Tasmania is expected to initially assume responsibility for up to five stadium assets, including MyState Bank Arena and the Silverdome, which are Crown assets, and Blundstone Arena, Dial Park in Penguin and UTAS Stadium, if this can be negotiated with their current owners.
The Stadiums Tasmania Amendment (Transfers) Bill 2022, will amend the Stadiums Tasmania Act 2022 and includes the following features:
• an updated and expanded list of definitions used in the Act;
• amended timeframes under which the Board is to prepare its first business plan and Annual Report, recognising when Stadiums Tasmania commenced;
• the employment arrangements for the Chief Executive Officer and staff of Stadiums Tasmania;
• confirm the process upon which employees proposed to transfer are made an offer of employment and may voluntarily choose to transfer or not transfer;
• preserve agreed employment entitlements for transferring employees, such as general leave entitlements, long service leave, superannuation and recognition of continuous service;
• outline the processes that will enable the Minister to transfer agreed assets, liabilities, and contracts;
• allow for the transfer of assets, to and from the Authority;
• introduces a provision that waives the payment of State tax by the Authority;
• outlines more explicitly the duties of the Board, officers, and employees to reflect contemporary expectations, consistent with the provisions contained in the Government Business Enterprise Act 1995 and Corporations Act 2001; and
• allows for the repeal of the Act on the first anniversary of its commencement. A staged approach is being used to implement Stadiums Tasmania:
• The Stadiums Tasmania Act 2022 has established the statutory authority and the Transfers Bill completes a two-stage legislative process;
• Arrangements have commenced to recruit the Authority’s inaugural Chairperson, Board and Chief Executive Officer; and
• Business and infrastructure asset information for each stadium proposed to transfer are currently being prepared to support the due diligence, negotiation, and transfer processes; and
• The Stadiums Tasmania Amendment (Transfers) Bill 2022 will enable, amongst other things, the transfer of relevant stadium assets, liabilities, contracts, and employees to Stadiums Tasmania.
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