Media Release: Mineral Resources Tasmania Report Undermines Stadium
Mineral Resources Tasmania Report Undermines Stadium
Friday 28 November 2025
Independent Member for Nelson Meg Webb said today a recent Mineral Resources Tasmania study raises serious questions over the logistical capacity for the AFL stadium to be constructed due to critical shortages of concrete-quality sand in southeastern Tasmania.
“The quiet release on the Mineral Resources Tasmania website of this critical report raises serious questions about the state’s capacity to build the stadium, as well as whether the timing of the report’s release after Budget Estimates scrutiny hearings was deliberate,” Ms Webb said.
“This sand inventory report, undertaken by a State Government department, basically tells us that we have run out of concrete suitable coarse grain sand in South-East Tasmania.
“This lack of suitable coarse sand has critical consequences for the AFL demanded stadium. It has now become even more expensive, as that sand will now need to be brought in from somewhere else.”
Ms Webb said the report states the inventory project was undertaken due to concerns regarding the “dwindling supply of sand for the manufacturing of concrete in the Hobart area”.
“Which begs the questions – when the Government knew of these concerns, when did they commission this report and when did they receive it?
“Further, has the additional cost of transporting sand and the expected “higher costs for infrastructure projects in the south of the state” been factored into the latest revised $1.2 billion costs of the new stadium?
“How will the diversion of appropriate building quality sand from elsewhere in the state affect other construction projects?”
Ms Webb also queried the timing of the recent release of this report on the Mineral Resources Tasmania website.
“The Government clearly knew the inventory was underway yet kept concerns over building quality sand supply and implications for the AFL stadium secret.
“The document properties of the report indicate it was created on November 20, the last day of Budget Estimates scrutiny, and the day the Minister for Resources was being scrutinized in the Lower House estimates committee.
“Critically, this report also escaped scrutiny by the Tasmanian Planning Commission earlier this year, and nor was it available for the Lower House debate on the Stadium Order.
“It is shocking the degree of secrecy and gaslighting of the parliament and the community that the Rockliff government is prepared to stoop to, all for their AFL mates.”
Ms Webb highlighted key statements in the Study of the Sand Inventory of Southeastern Tasmania Mineral Resources Tasmania report, which pose clear and serious ramifications for the proposed AFL stadium at Macquarie Point.
- “As of 2025, Southeast (SE) Tasmania has effectively exhausted its available supply of natural coarse sharp sand suitable for concrete manufacture. This will likely result in price increases for sand use for concrete manufacture.” (Executive Summary & pg 8)
- “The transportation of sand is currently costing approximately $0.20-$0.25 per tonne per km. The distance to transport sand to the Hobart CBD will increase from 35 km to over 300 km as coarse sand supplies transition from South Arm to Northeast Tasmania.” (pg 4)
- “The price of fine aggregate for concrete mixes will likely increase in the future due to the costs associated with increased transportation distances.” (pg 4)
- “This project was initiated due to concerns regarding the dwindling supply of sand for the manufacture of concrete in the Hobart area.” (pg 23)
- “There does not appear to be an easy, short- term replacement for the loss of local coarse sand supply for the construction industry in SE Tasmania.” (pg 32)
- “The increased distances involved in transporting sand from quarries in the north of the state, to infrastructure projects in the south, will result in higher costs for infrastructure projects in the south of the state.” (pg 32)
The Mineral Resources Tasmania A Study of the Sand Inventory of Southeastern Tasmania report can be found online here or via the link below:
