Sports InfrastructureLindsay SaundersThu 15 Oct 26
BESIX Watpac Chosen for Hobart’s Contentious Stadium Project
The preferred builder for Hobart’s $1.13-billion Macquarie Point stadium has been named, with negotiations over the final construction price to continue before a contract is expected to be signed by Christmas.
Australian construction company BESIX Watpac beat a rival consortium led by Italian contractor WeBuild to progress to the final stage of procurement for the 23,000-seat roofed venue.
The project’s $1.13-billion budget has not been publicly updated since late 2025 and the final cost remains subject to negotiations. The government has cited the live procurement process as the reason for not releasing revised costings.
The Tasmanian Government’s contribution is capped at $875 million under a funding agreement, with the Federal Government contributing $240 million and the AFL $15 million.
Any additional funding requirement would need to be addressed through scope reductions or further contributions from other parties.
BESIX Watpac recently completed Christchurch’s 30,000-seat One New Zealand Stadium, which opened in June, two months ahead of schedule. The project cost more than $650 million.
The company is also part of a joint venture with John Holland delivering Brisbane’s new 63,000-seat Olympic stadium, a project valued at about $3.6 billion.
The Hobart appointment follows a competitive tender process that narrowed the field to BESIX Watpac and Constructure Joint Venture, comprising WeBuild and China Construction Oceania, with McConnell Dowell as a key partner.
Site works at Macquarie Point began in July, with bulk earthworks and site preparation under way ahead of the main construction contract.
The stadium is expected to be completed by December, 2030. Its delivery is a condition of Tasmania’s entry into the AFL and AFLW, with the Tasmania Devils due to join the competitions in 2028.
The project is intended to anchor the redevelopment of the Macquarie Point waterfront precinct, although the final construction price and any changes to scope remain key milestones ahead of the main build.
