All but 2 of Launceston's Councillors and the GM are seriously out to Lunch and who knows who is picking up the tab and for why??

The council endorsed the UTAS Stadium Draft Future Direction Plan at its meeting on Thursday afternoon. The plans look at the stadium's future to transform it to a year-round venue, meet growing demands and provide more indoor sporting facilities in the region. 

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It proposes achieving this by upgrading the stadium and adding a new sporting and entertainment facility. The council will still need to develop a final plan and approve it, conduct extensive stakeholder and community consultation, secure funding and strike a deal on a new ownership model before ground can be broken on the site. All but two councillors voted in support of the draft plans. Cr Paul Spencer, who abstained, said the money would be better spent on the Launceston General Hospital and the kanamaluka/Tamar River. ...........................Cr Tim Walker who voted against it, said he was concerned the council would be limiting itself to lobbying to one major project from the state government, and limiting its ability to lobby for others such as affordable housing. The proposed redevelopment of the stadium will cost an estimated $109 million to increase the stadium's seating to 24,112. It will redevelop the eastern and northern stand to include a retractable lower level to create a rectangular field if needed and redeveloping the southern stand to link to the sport and entertainment facility. 

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On the street: what Launceston thinks of the proposed $208m UTAS Stadium upgrades 

It will also feature high-performance training, recovery, admin, education and research facilities to support athletes, with a primary focus on AFL. Alongside commercial opportunities to activate the area, such as health businesses, cafes and shops. ...........................A new $99 million indoor entertainment and sporting facility is also proposed for the Old Bike Track site by the southern end of the stadium on Invermay Road. 

RELATED: New $208m vision for UTAS Stadium revealed .

It will feature three indoor courts - capable of hosting a range of sports including basketball, futsal and netball - and indoor training and recovery spaces. ...........................It will feature three indoor courts - capable of hosting a range of sports including basketball, futsal and netball - and indoor training and recovery spaces. Alongside a show court made possible by retractable seating to accommodate up to 5000 people for concerts, exhibitions/conferences and higher level basketball matches, netball and other sporting events.