AFL/AFLW High Performance Centre

The High Performance Centre will be the training and administration facility of the Tasmania Football Club. The centre will be situated across two locations, using parts of the former Rosny golf course and Charles Hand Park.  

Currently, it is proposed for the main training facility and administration building to be in the old golf course, with a smaller facility in Charles Hand Park. 

The main facility will consist of an oval the same size as the MCG playing surface, and a training and administration building housing indoor training facilities such as a gym, pool, indoor field, as well as housing the club’s administration. It is planned for elements of the facility to be publicly accessible and provide services to the community, as well as a hospitality element such a café like the Hurricanes Café at Blundstone arena. 

The High Performance Centre is not a stadium and will not consist of large stands of seating circling the playing field. 

The second site will house a smaller sized oval and small building with changeroom facilities. 

The middle third section of the old golf course between the Clarence City Council chambers and the Tasman Highway (see concept drawing below) is currently being investigated for the main facility of the High Performance Centre. The Centre will be surrounded by a cultural park, event space and playground at the southern end, which will be an extension of Rosny Farm, and a wild park with natural vegetation and walking trails at the Gordons Hill Rd end of the Parklands. 

The oval on Charles Hand Park will sit towards the Bastick St and Riawena Rd corner of the park. 

*The below map for illustrative purposes only and not an indication of the final design. No decision has been made in regard to the removal of the Rosny skate park.

5 June

From Thursday 6 June an arborist and tree climber will undertake tree health assessment and look for hollows across both Charles Hand and the old golf course sites.

This is a continuation of due diligence investigations carried out by a Department of State Growth contractor.

13 May

Ground testing will be conducted at the old golf course and Charles Hand Park from Tuesday 14 May 2024.

The seismic survey works are non-intrusive with minimal noise and will not interrupt any planned events in the areas.

The survey works will inform the location of geotechnical test pits and bore holes that are scheduled to commence across both sites in the week commencing 20 May 2024.

This is standard pre-planning work.

The works will be carried out by a Department of State Growth contractor.

The City Heart Plan remains an important strategic project for Clarence City Council.   

Since its inception in 2020, City Heart aims to coordinate the future growth and development of our principal activity centre, Rosny Park, by connecting three Clarence suburbs – Rosny, Warrane and Bellerive (see image below). 

While both Charles Hand Park and the old golf course are identified in these plans, the full scope of the City Heart Plan goes well beyond these sites and considers several interconnected precincts, each with their own vision and character. 

The plans conceptualise strategic opportunities for each precinct that covers economic development including a night economy; housing and visitor accommodation; traffic, parking, public transport and general mobility; as well as recreation, culture and events. 

It also seeks out opportunity for central civic and community hubs and a more seamless connection between the waterfront of Bellerive to the residential streets of Warrane. 

In the original iteration of the City Heart Plan, Charles Hand Park and the old Rosny golf course were identified as part of an ‘open space network’ consisting of a ‘central park’, medium density housing, sports courts (basketball, pickleball, tennis and netball), concert space, arts and culture precinct, edible gardens and BBQ spaces. 

The City Heart Plan concept designs are likely to adapt to meet the requirements of a High Performance Centre project, however Council will continue to work with the Tasmanian Government to ensure the principles of the City Heart Plan are retained including some of the original plans such as the Arts and Culture precinct and walking trails, however what specifically is dependent on where Council and the State agree on the placement of the ovals and training and administration building.  

Community consultation on the next stage of the City Heart Plan will be in quarter one 2024/25. 

View the full Clarence City Heart Concept Report and consultation outcomes on the Your Say Website: https://www.yoursay.ccc.tas.gov.au/cityheart 

The final design as decided through the development of a precinct plan for the old golf course and Charles Hand Park will supersede the concepts for the area as detailed in the City Heart Plan.

There were many elements of the original City Heart Plan which were highly anticipated by the community and council will look at the possibility of including those facilities and developments in other areas of the City Heart Plan.

Council is committed to working with the Tasmanian Government deliver a High Performance Centre that best fits with the principals of the City Heart Plan.

See more about the City Heart Plan project at: www.ccc.tas.gov.au/city-heart-project

During the development of council’s proposal to the Department of State Growth, council investigated numerous locations across the city as possible options to house the High Performance Centre. These locations included the old Rosny golf course and Charles Hand Park (Rosny), Seven Mile Beach, Geilston Bay Recreation Area, Blundstone Arena, Cambridge, and Clarence Plains/Bayview Secondary College. 

Clarence Council could only put forward options in our proposal on land which we own, or in partnership with the other landowner/s. 

Of these five options, only one, Rosny, is owned and managed by council. Council worked with other landowners during the development of our proposal and looked at joint proposals with adjoining landowners, but none were forth coming. 

While these other locations could very well be eligible for selection under the State’s process, any expression of interest would need to be made by the relevant landowner. 

Geilston Bay 

Clarence City Council owns only one third of the Geilston Bay Recreation Area identified in the initial site investigations. While the site has potential for a High Performance Centre, it would require consent from all landowners to be put forward as an option.   

Clarence Plains/Bayview Secondary College 

The recreational land near Bayview College is not owned by council. 

The site at Bayview also didn’t meet the selection criteria around centrality and location that other sites provided, which is deemed to be an essential factor in the success and operations of a High Performance Centre.  

Council is working with the Department of Education, Children and Young People to develop Bayview as a sporting precinct for the school and wider community.  

Seven Mile Beach 

The Seven Mile Beach location near the airport is privately owned and was not a viable option because it did not meet essential criteria around its location and distance from Hobart.  

Council could not include this option without landowner consent. 

Cambridge 

A site was identified near Cambridge school, however the site was only partially owned by council. It was also deemed not a viable option because it did not meet essential criteria around its location and distance from Hobart. 

Rosny 

The former Rosny golf course and Charles Hand Park was considered a potential site with a high degree of suitability due to its size and location. It also did not displace any current sporting or community clubs, and is connected to local amenities and main roads. 

The Tasmanian Government and Tasmanian Football Club conducted the site selection process which began in the second half of 2023, following proposals from Clarence and Kingborough Councils. 

You can find out more about this by visiting the Tasmanian Government website.

Across the country, particularly in Victoria, AFL training facilities are community hubs and used extensively by the public. Outside of training and maintenance times, both ovals will be available for the community to use recreationally and there is a desire to run local organised sports on the Charles Hand Park oval.

The area surrounding the High Performance Centre’s main facility in the old golf course is set to be developed with a cultural park, event spaces, a playground and walking trails.

Through the development of a precinct plan for the old golf course and Charles Hand Park, council will be able to detail where various facilities, such as dog exercise areas, could be located. The precinct plan will be put to the community for consultation.

No.

Both sites are owned, and the land will remain the property of Clarence City Council. It is anticipated a long-term lease will be arranged to facilitate the development and operation of the AFL High Performance Centre and secondary oval.

Reference to a $1 lease is relating to an agreement between the Tasmanian Government and the Tasmania Football Club.

The terms of the lease agreement between Clarence City Council and the Tasmanian Government will be decided at a later time. The priority at this time is development of a Heads of Agreement between the Department of State Growth and Council.

Council also plans to collect rates on the land.

No.

Clarence City Council is not paying for, or subsidising the building of the High Performance Centre, or either ovals. The development is funded by the Tasmanian government and the AFL.

Community consultation was undertaken over a four-week period in line with Council’s standard practice, with a survey open from 10 October to 7 November 2023.

The survey received 959 responses; the second highest response of any survey Clarence City Council has conducted.

There was a coordinated effort to engage the community including:

• an online survey on the Your Say Clarence website with an elevated and prominent presence on council’s website and the Your Say Clarence page
• an in-person engagement presence at the youth-oriented Paint Party Run event at the old golf course on Saturday 4 November 2023
• four Facebook posts throughout the consultation period (10 October, 27 October, 6 November, and 7 November), reaching 27,963 people
• flyers, and paper surveys in the Council Chambers foyer.

The aim of the consultation was to reach a good mix of ages and family types, and to hear from residents from right across Clarence.

In addition, there was significant media interest during the consultation period, with the ability to participate in the consultation mentioned in various articles and interviews.

The full consultation report is available on the Your Say Clarence website, or via this link – www.yoursay.ccc.tas.gov.au/afl-high-performance-centre-community-consultation

At Clarence City Council’s meeting on 18 March 2024, a petition was received sighting concerns over a “lack of community consultation undertaken regarding the proposed siting of the AFL High Performance Centre” and requesting a public meeting.  

Council voted to note the petition and authorised the CEO to organise a public meeting to be held within 30 days of the petition being noted, in accordance with Sections 59 and 60(3). 

Click here to read more information and FAQs about the public meeting.

The construction of the High Performance Centre and the second the oval on Charles Hand Park does not pose a threat to the operation of Rosny College. Rosny College and the site in which it is located is owned and managed by the Department of Education, Children and Young People.

The Rosny Park Tennis Club has been an engaged and valued stakeholder throughout this process. Any impact on the tennis club is yet to be determined and will be resolved through the development of a plan for the precinct.

No decision to remove the Rosny Skate Park has been made. All decisions in relation to the AFL High Performance Centre will be informed by the precinct planning process, which will be put out to the public for consultation before being finalised.

Due to the requirements of a modern High Performance Centre and the likely displacement of the clubs and organisations currently using the venue, Blundstone Arena was not considered a suitable location. This was a decision out of council’s control.

Through the development of a precinct plan for the Rosny Parklands and Charles Hand Park, council will carefully consider the traffic management of the area.

As part of the development of the old golf course and Charles Hand Park, an intersection with traffic signals is expected to be constructed at the junction of Rosny Hill Road and Riawena Road.

The construction of an intersection at this location was also part of the City Heart Plan for this area and is likely to occur whether the AFL/AFLW High Performance Centre proceeds as currently planned or not to service the expansion of the Rosny Farm arts and cultural precinct.

Through the development application process for the High Performance Centre, Council will require a detailed traffic management assessment. It is expected that traffic exiting the old golf course will be able to turn right at the new intersection and join the Tasman Highway heading toward Hobart. It is likely traffic wishing to head east, or towards the airport, would need to do so via the Mornington roundabout. Council is currently working with the Australian and Tasmanian Governments to ensure the pinch-point issues of the Mornington roundabout are addressed and the promised funding for the roundabout upgrade is delivered, as well as looking at other options to improve traffic flow.

The High Performance Centre is likely to generate noise similar to a community football ground in use on any given Saturday during winter. The position of the High Performance Centre means any noise is unlikely to be able to be heard from the closest residential properties.

The secondary oval will omit a similar level of noise when in use.

In 1948 Charles Hand was elected to the Tasmanian House of Assembly as a Labor member for Franklin. He held that seat until defeat in 1956. He then became the first Commissioner for Clarence from 1958 until his death in April 1968 at the age of 65. 

Charles Hand had advocated for council to purchase the land and passed not long after the agreement to sell the land to the City of Clarence was reached.  

It was thought that given Charles Hand’s role as a member for Franklin and the first Commissioner of Clarence, totalling approximately 18 years, out of respect the Park was named in his honour. 

The area has been called Charles Hand Memorial Park since at least the early 1980s. In December 2021, in accordance with the Place Names Act 2020, the place name of “Charles Hand Memorial Park” was assigned.  

Ownership of land 

In 1963, Council entered into a purchase contract with the Crown for the whole area now known as the Charles Hand Memorial Park including the site of Rosny College. At the time the land was known as “Home Paddock”. The original title plan showed a boundary going to Derwent River. That area was reclaimed and now forms Kangaroo Bay Oval.  

Subsequently, a portion of the land was transferred back to the Crown for construction of Rosny College. 

The following is a memo from A. Sice dated 4 May 1992 extracted from council’s Rosny College file B027-40: 

Council entered into an agreement with the Crown in 1963 for the purchase of the whole of Charles Hand Park but in 1970 one small section (1.319 hectares) was resold to the crown for the purpose of constructing the Rosny College. The purchase contract was due for finalisation in 1995. 

Other sections of Charles Hand Park are leased to Rosny Bowls Club and Tennis Club. 

In 1998 the title transferred from the Crown to council for the purchase price of 130,000.00; this included the Charles Hand Memorial Park, Rosny Park Tennis Club site, Rosny Bowls Club site and public car park. 

Naming of the land 

The area has been called Charles Hand Memorial Park since the early 1980s. 

In December 2021, in accordance with the Place Names Act 2020, Placenames Tasmania officially assigned the place name of “Charles Hand Memorial Park” to the land noting: 

Meeting 272/12: OTHER BUSINESS. HOBART ATLAS – “CHARLES HAND MEMORIAL PARK”. Copies of an item in the Suburban Supplement of “The Mercury” 8th October had been distributed to members. The item concerned the proposal to apply the name “Charles Hand Memorial Park” to an area within the locality of Rosny Park. Members were in favour of the late Mr. Hand being commemorated in this way but resolved that the Clarence Council should be asked to indicate the precise extent of the area and when it considered it appropriate to officially assign the name. 

Meeting 273/3.15: MATTERS ARISING FROM MINUTES. HOBART ATLAS – “CHARLES HAND MEMORIAL PARK”. Members had been provided with copies of a letter from the Clarence Council giving information on this proposal. It was agreed that the Council be asked to submit the name for approval at the appropriate time. 

Meeting 493/8.1: Assignment of place names. Recommendation approved by Minister 2021 Dec 15.