- In short: An Aboriginal social enterprise has been forced to close its doors at Macquarie Point because its founder says promises of consultation and infrastructure weren't forthcoming
- What's next? The Macquarie Point Development Corporation insists a First Nations presence is still a focus of the site's redevelopment
A vision for Hobart's Macquarie Point that focuses on reconnecting with the Tasmanian Aboriginal community and reckoning with the traumatic past is in danger of slipping away.
Plans to include a Truth and Reconciliation Park in the industrial site's redevelopment have been flagged since 2016 when MONA released its vision for the area, long before it became the preferred location for a stadium.
Aboriginal social enterprise Nayri Niara, founded by executive director Ruth Langford, moved into the temporary structure known as the LongHouse at Macquarie Point in 2018 as an early part of that vision.
But it hasn't worked out as planned.
"Unfortunately, over these periods of time, the grand vision hasn't been supported," Ms Langford said.
Nayri Niara's work included coordinating the Good Spirit Festival on Bruny Island and running youth training and employment programs, wellbeing and mental health services and cultural events at the LongHouse.
But Ms Langford says she grew frustrated with what she believed were broken promises about consultation, program support and infrastructure.
She said it left her no choice but to close Nayri Niara.
"There has yet to be an understanding of the true value of Aboriginal cultural knowledge, first and foremost with the current government but also with the agencies that were involved," she said.
"When we had come to them with some recommendations about how to engage with Aboriginal people, they weren't taken up and so we just got on with the job."
She's unsure whether Nayri Niara will be established elsewhere.
"The financial burden has basically meant that I have let go of staff, the programs, the really incredible programs that we have been delivering have had to stop, we haven't had the capacity to forward-think," she said.
Aboriginal woman Tasha Matthews said she benefited greatly from her time at Nayri Niara, both through paid work and community connection.
"The LongHouse has been an opportunity to spend time with other Aboriginal people, which is so important and as I kid growing up I didn't have that a lot," she said.
"If Nayri Niara moves from the LongHouse and doesn't pop up somewhere else, I think that would be very sad."
Reconciliation park still part of the plan
When Prime Minister Anthony Albanese visited Hobart in April, promising $240 million for the development, he also said it would include consultation with First Nations groups, the local council and RSL Tasmania.
The Macquarie Point Development Corporation insists the Aboriginal Truth and Reconciliation Park is still a key part of the project, along with a stadium and an Antarctic science hub.
"Its development will be guided by the original owners of lutruwita, the palawa people," a spokesperson said.
"We will work with the Tasmanian Aboriginal community directly to progress this work."
A group set up to help with preliminary design will meet in coming months.
MPDC has also invited public feedback on what Tasmanians want to see at Macquarie Point to help guide the precinct plan and the design brief for the proposed stadium.
Whether Nayri Niara will be involved in the site's future is unknown.
"It's very difficult to enter into a relationship when trust has been broken in such a profound way," Ms Langford said.
