Major parties vow to take stadium proposal to Canberra

The $300m Darwin City Stadium will need to at least be partly funded by the federal government, with the candidates for the election pushing for the new stadium, however, only the Greens have openly said they would oppose its construction.

The CLP’s Solomon candidate Tina MacFarlane said“I will always push for more investment in sporting infrastructure in the Top End, like the proposed stadium,”.

The Greens Senate candidate Jane Anlezark said sporting facilities were vital to improving community health., but said she didn’t want “huge sums committed to another stadium”

THE Territory’s candidates for the looming federal election have welcomed the push for a new stadium to be built in Darwin’s CBD.

Only the Greens have openly said they would oppose its construction. Meanwhile, both Labor and the CLP said they would await further details from feasibility studies.

The $300m Darwin City Stadium will need to at least be partly funded by the federal government.

A similar stadium built in Townsville last decade was funded 50:50 by the Queensland and federal governments.

The CLP’s Solomon candidate Tina MacFarlane said she would welcome a new stadium being built in the Top End.

“I will always push for more investment in sporting infrastructure in the Top End, like the proposed stadium,” Ms MacFarlane said.

“I look forward to hearing further from the proponents of this plan, and I will always strongly fight for our residents, especially our youth, to have access to high-quality facilities to train and compete at, and that will also act as a drawcard for interstate and international elite sporting fixtures.”

Labor’s Solomon incumbent Luke Gosling said he would “love to see the NT get its own AFL team in the national competition”.

“I’ll do everything I can to support this with Federal Labor, and to discuss funding a world-class stadium for Darwin,” Mr Gosling said.

“I understand feasibility studies are in the works and that a Territory AFL team might become a reality in a couple of years, which would be awesome.”

Mr Gosling said new facilities would allow the Northern Territory to keep “some of Australia’s best players” in the Top End.

The Greens Senate candidate Jane Anlezark said sporting facilities were vital to improving community health., but said she didn’t want “huge sums committed to another stadium”.

“There are plenty of clubs in town and out bush that struggle to keep their facilities up to scratch, especially after every wet season,” Ms Anlezark said.

Liberal Democrat Senator Sam McMahon, who is seeking re-election next month, said she supported the proposal.

“A modern new stadium in the heart of Darwin would be a great asset for the city, which would also attract tourism and international sporting events,” Senator McMahon said.

AFL NT says the new stadium will create 2600 construction jobs, and could be paired with more funding for remote facilities.