Tas stadium site only supports 'lightweight structures'

The Tasmanian government remains confident in the site for its proposed new stadium after a report found the ground at Macquarie Point could be unsuitable.

The geotechnical report, commissioned in 2015 and released on Friday, casts doubt over the ability to build a fully-roofed, 23,000 seat stadium at the site.

Commissioned by geotechnical experts Douglas Partners, the report found the ground had "poor geotechnical properties" and was only suitable to support "lightweight structures that are non-settlement sensitive".

Steel pile foundations would need to be dug 18m into the bedrock below the site “for all settlement-sensitive buildings/structures”.

“This could include 1-2 storey buildings and certainly buildings that are of 3 levels or greater,” the report said.

The report also found groundwater sits between two and five metres below the surface of the site.

Tasmanian Premier Jeremy Rockliff said he remained confident in the $715 million project on Saturday, arguing the government would work through the issues.

"We're positive, we're not blockers and we get on with a job and I'm very confident that we can build a stadium," he told reporters in Hobart on Saturday.

"We've got legislation already through the parliament and then we can get on to planning the economic, the social, the environmental, and everyone can have their say."

The Tasmanian opposition said the report casts "serious doubt" over the project, particularly the ability to deliver it on time and within budget.

"If it is possible that a stadium can be built there it will require a horrendously expensive engineering solution," Tasmanian Liberal member Shane Broad said.

Construction of the $715 million 23,000-seat roofed waterfront stadium was a condition of the AFL granting a licence to Tasmania for expected entry in the competition in 2028.

A parliamentary committee in early September found the Tasmanian government did not consult with key stakeholders before announcing the site for a proposed stadium.

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