The proposed $208 million upgrades at UTAS Stadium received praise from the community on Sunday, with one common theme emerging: other issues in the city needed addressing too.
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The Examiner gauged the opinions of Indulge attendees at the stadium after the City of Launceston council announced its draft plans for the future of the stadium on Friday.
However, several people refused to have their say, as they said they did not know enough about the proposed project to comment.
The council is proposing the state government take control of the stadium and has provided a plan on what is needed moving forward, including a $109m upgrade to increase seating, upgrade facilities and make it retractable to configure into a rectangular field.
Alongside a $99m new sporting and entertainment facility at the Old Bike Track site, by the stadium, able to accommodate up to 5000 people.
The majority of those vox popped at the stadium said they supported the upgrades.
Ken Harman
Norwood's Ken Harman said he believed some of the funding should be directed towards the kanamaluka/Tamar River.
"I think the stadium is a great stadium for the size of Launceston and I think what they're going to do to it is just enhancing the whole thing," he said.
"However, I would like to see some of the money, just a little bit of it, go towards the Tamar. I've just come from the Launceston Regatta, which had to be called off because the boats were getting stuck in the mud.
"I just think if we could do a little bit of remedial work, perhaps dredging for 12 months or something, while they work out how they can fix it."
Penelope Speldewinde and Barry Gilbert
Penelope Speldewinde and Barry Gilbert both agreed the proposed upgrades looked amazing, but their thoughts differed from there.
"The proposed upgrades look amazing," Ms Speldewinde said.
"I think there's another problem that needs to be addressed before money is spent there. That's my personal opinion ... and it's the homelessness issue."
Mr Gilbert said he thought the idea sounded fantastic.
"I just think anything and everything for development in Tasmania, if it's sensible stuff, is fantastic," he said.
"Tasmania is doing really well and batting way above its weight and I hope it continues."
Anne Barnard
Launceston's Anne Barnard said the proposed upgrades to the stadium and the new courts were a step in the right direction.
"I think it'll look wonderful, I really do," she said.
"Progress is what we need here."
What our readers thought
The majority of Examiner readers also said they supported the upgrades, with 51 of 70 respondents to our online poll pledging their support.
The other 19 said they did not support the proposed plans.
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