A PARLIAMENTARY inquiry into the Tasmanian government's proposal to build a multipurpose stadium at Macquarie Point has attracted a near-record number of submissions, with public hearings set to begin next month.

The Parliamentary Standing Committee of Public Accounts, chaired by independent Murchison MLC Ruth Forrest, is looking at the feasibility planning for the stadium, which is considered a prerequisite for Tasmania to win an AFL licence.

The inquiry has received 926 public submissions, coming close to matching the 1162 submissions received by a 1998 parliamentary inquiry into voluntary assisted dying.

Among the organisations that submitted to the stadium inquiry were Cricket Australia, the Tasmanian Conservation Trust, and Master Builders Tasmania.

Ms Forrest said the volume of submissions demonstrated "the significant amount of public interest in this (issue)".

"I think there are many questions that need answering and it'll be good to get some of those answers out in the public arena," she said.

Ms Forrest said the "vast majority" of submissions were opposed to the stadium.

"I think it's really important that we shine a light on the process issues here," she said.

"Who made the decision that (a new stadium) had to be a condition (of a Tasmanian AFL team) . and . who was consulted around (the selection of the Macquarie Point site) after the number of master plans that had already been agreed to?" The Tasmanian government's own submission says the stadium would deliver $2.2bn in economic activity over 25 years, "providing more opportunity to invest in schools, hospitals, roads, social housing and future critical infrastructure projects".

The inquiry will hold hearings in Launceston and Hobart in March and April.

The Mercury, Thursday 23 February 2023