A MOTION put forward by Alderman Robin McKendrick will see the City of Launceston prepare a strategy to address the future of AFL in the North of the state.
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The motion was passed unanimously at Tuesday’s council meeting, with a number of Aldermen speaking passionately in support.
Alderman McKendrick highlighted the importance of AFL matches to the Northern economy when he spoke to the motion on Tuesday.
Alderman McKendrick added a clause to the motion during the meeting to recommend the establishment of a working group involving the mayor, deputy mayor, general manager, and the chairman and deputy chairman of the York Park and Inveresk Precinct Authority to prepare the strategy.
The strategy is expected to be presented to council on its completion.
Alderman McKendrick said Launceston could not afford to lose any AFL matches, and recommended the council engage in discussions with key partners.
“Now is the time, in my opinion, that we need to be involved with the state government, AFL, Hawthorn, and anybody for the future (of AFL in the North),” he said.
“We need to be at the table for those discussions.”
Deputy Mayor Rob Soward focused on the wider impact of AFL on local hospitality businesses when speaking in support of the motion on Tuesday.
Mayor Albert van Zetten said the value of the Hawthorn arrangement was more than monetary, but also involved the close ties the team had built with the community over 14 years.
“Hawthorn have absolutely worked so hard at it, from their coach to their president, players have been very supportive in lots of ways,” he said.
Alderman Hugh McKenzie said the estimated $28 million per year injection into the local economy under current arrangements was “not something we can afford to lose.”
Alderman Danny Gibson said the council needed to be leading the conversation around the future of AFL.
