Tasmania has received a major boost ahead of its vital vote on the Macquarie Point Stadium later this week, with the Kingborough Council unanimously approving the development application for the club's new High Performance Centre.
The facility is set to become the home of both the AFL and AFLW programs, providing world-class training, recovery, and administrative spaces to support athletes and staff.
The approval marks a momentous occasion for the Devils ahead of the 2028 introduction to the top flight, ahead of Wednesday's debate for the roofed venue.
"The club wishes to thank all those involved in achieving this approval, most importantly Kingborough Council, Kingborough Knights Cricket Club, Kingborough Tigers Football Club, and the residents of the municipality," General Manager of Infrastructure and Commercial Development Michael Thorn said.
"The development approval enables the Club to move to the construction tendering phase of the project in the new year—creating jobs for local firms across many different trades. We can't wait to get started.
The design of the facility is not only set to be a training base, but hold a key role within the community, helping, as stated by the Devils, "as a community asset, with spaces designed to support engagement activities, education programs, and opportunities for local groups to connect with Tasmania's AFL journey.
There's growing confidence that the stadium will get a green light after it was passed through at the Lower House last month.
Following a six-hour debate, the order was passed 25-9 on the combined votes of the Liberals, Labor, independent David O'Byrne, and Shooters, Fishers and Farmers MP Carlo Di Falco, according to the ABC, approving the $1.13 billion build.
The 23,000-seat stadium at Macquarie Point is essential for Tasmania's entry into the AFL men's and women's competitions.
