October 2, 2024

Stadium is attractive for investors? . . . don't think so!

It was rather a surprise to learn The Examiner Newspaper’s editorial had dredged up the pulp mill in the context of the proposed third stadium - the latest project that’s causing controversy in Tasmania. It was like being transported back in time when there was rarely a week without all three of the state’s dailies championing the pulp mill in some way, claiming it would be an economic boon.


The editor in this piece (published a few days ago) appeared to be following the same well-thumbed playbook. Together with, presumably, a lack of knowledge about recent Tasmanian history, he stated the stadium project had progressed too far, and it couldn’t (shouldn’t?) now be stopped. It prompted a letter to the paper – and a similar one to The Mercury since that newspaper is also principal stadium cheerleader, ignoring the fact that half the state neither wants it, and rightly believes we can’t afford it.  Sems it's a case of 'here we go again . .  '


“ONCE again Tasmanians are being told investors are lining up to financially support the proposed stadium, while according to a recent editorial, the project has progressed to the point of no return (The Examiner, September 19).


With the greatest respect, that is rubbish. Mr Thomson needs to study Tasmania’s recent history.

This same claim was used during the campaign against the Tamar Valley pulp mill. Several supposed Joint Venture Partners were always just a signature away from ‘investing’ in the pulp mill – until suddenly they weren’t.


All but one melted away into the shadows never to be heard from again, and that one soon departed after due diligence quickly showed the economics of the project didn’t stack up and community opposition was strong, sustained and vocal.


Potential stadium investors will doubtless also soon sniff out the amount of public controversy and opposition surrounding the project. And that the economics of the project don’t stack up.


Economist Saul Eslake made that very clear in his recent report. It should have been enough for the stadium to go the way of the pulp mill.


Tasmania has been treated to a sample of climate volatility recently, a reality that’s only likely to worsen.

Projects such as the stadium will inevitably be impacted. Disrupted travel plans, rising sea levels – which will make the Mac Point site rather vulnerable – and of course escalating global unrest and uncertainty that’s far more likely to result in people hunkering down and staying home.


These all add up to showing this is definitely not the time to be building a massive piece of infrastructure that Tasmania neither needs, and certainly can’t afford.”

 

 

 

 

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Finding a publisher could be getting closer

By Anne Layton-Bennett • July 22, 2026
Attracting the interest of a publisher for this story of a community’s campaign to stop what would have been ‘the world’s fourth largest pulp mill’ being built was never going to be easy, but hoping the first of two 3-minute Literary Speed Dating pitch sessions will prompt at least one of the two publishers to request the full MSS. And preferably both of them. These twice-yearly Perfect Pitch sessions are offered to members of the Australian Society of Authors, and this is the first time I’ve taken advantage of them – mainly because of the need to have a completed MSS before doing so. Three minutes isn’t long to excite the interest of a publisher who is after stories in very specific genres, and who therefore needs to believe your MSS is worth investing the time needed to read it in full. I’m pretty certain I’ve excited the necessary interest, but given Jane will hear the pitches of many more optimistic and talented writers after my morning session today, there are no guarantees. That initial interest might well wane as the day goes on if other writers have written stories that sound far more intriguing – and marketable. One can never forget that aspect of publishing these days: will the book sell. I believe my story will – certainly in Tasmania it definitely will – but a wider Australian readership? That’s an unknown even if my mentor is convinced of the story’s universal appeal.  I’d certainly like to think I’ve caught the zeitgeist wave given the current widespread community unrest over AI data centres, that’s already prompting similar serious opposition, and for many of the same reasons the Tamar Valley’s community opposed the pulp mill. Environmental degradation, threats to public health, water usage – and water shortages in an era of escalating climate extremes – and the constant, relentless noise factor that’s associated with data centres, and AI data centres in particular. I’m crossing my fingers that the second pitch session will be equally positive, and that I could strike it lucky with both publishers requesting to see the full MSS. But I won’t get ahead of myself. I’ll just be keeping all fingers and toes firmly crossed for the next seven days.
Magni

Fiona's gift

By Anne Layton-Bennett • June 14, 2026
It’s taken far too many months for this marvellous model to grace the dedicated desk space in my office. When Fiona comes to visit next she will be very surprised, and hopefully gratified, that her amazing creative talent is finally on display. We’ve known each other for a very long time, and during the insanely busy time when I was helping to run the flower farm, working part-time in a school library, doing a spot of journalism on the side, and fighting the proposed pulp mill that is the subject of the manuscript I’m hoping to get published, Fiona cleaned my house each week. There’s only so much a person can do after all, and it has to be said cleaning our house during those manic years was fairly low down on the list of my priorities. But Fiona is a woman of many talents and she certainly possesses one that I so don’t have: sewing and dressmaking. So over the years she’s also made a few garments based on the pattern of a favourite garment that I was particularly fond of, and she’s also done some clothing alterations for both of us. My skills with needles and thread are limited to sewing on buttons, and taking up hems on John’s too-long pairs of jeans. Anything else is beyond me. But this fabulous model is the pièce de résistance – along with the beautiful crocheted knee warmer she gave me last year. This was when winter was approaching and so determined was I to finish writing the book, I decided to get out of bed at the insane hour of 5am and get in a solid hour’s writing in before dog walking and the demands of the day took over. Fiona was also one of many Tasmanians who needed to be circumspect about her opinion of the pulp mill. It was a project that polarised people, including families and friendships. She was one of several who passed on snippets of useful information, but on the basis of anonymity so it couldn’t be sheeted home to her.  Needless to say Fiona will be one of those whose contribution will be acknowledged – when this book is finally accepted by a publisher.

Signs of spring - when winter's only just arrived

By Anne Layton-Bennett • June 8, 2026
Early lambing season a sign of changing seasons? Or economic reality?

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