Northern Suburbs Community Recreation Hub (the Hub)
Design concept videos
Northern Suburbs Community Recreation Hub (the Hub)
Infrastructure Tasmania is delivering the Northern Suburbs Community Recreation Hub (the Hub) at Mowbray in Launceston.
The Hub is funded through a partnership between the Tasmanian Government, Australian Government and the City of Launceston, who have jointly committed $43.6 million to support this important project.
The Hub will deliver Tasmania’s largest multi-purpose community sporting and recreation facility with a building area of over 10,000 square metres of usable indoor space and additional outdoor activities.
Increasing community engagement in recreation and sport is a driving force behind this development, providing positive effects on people's health and social lives. The space will also assist in addressing Launceston's lack of indoor sports facilities.
The Hub aims to enhance social and economic outcomes for the area, providing access to local community, sport, and recreation facilities and programs in the northern suburbs and offer residents a safe location to meet.
The Hub will include:
- Four designated indoor courts for netball operated by the Northern Tasmania Netball Association (NTNA).
- Three indoor multi-use courts will be available for use for basketball, volleyball, futsal, table tennis, pickleball, wheelchair sports and many other sporting and community recreational activities and will help to address the current court shortfall.
- Rock climbing, gym, dojo, boxing and weightlifting facilities including an outdoor activities area.
- A designated gymnastics area to provide a wide range of programs for people of all ages.
- Café, commercial kitchen, and spectator amenities (grandstand seating) with change room facilities and onsite parking.
- Youth engagement, community education and counselling areas.
- Multipurpose office space that can be used for meetings, training and administration.
- Open space for community gatherings of up to 800 people to come together offering diverse services and opportunities.
- Safe pedestrian access off Invermay Road and connectivity to the Hub from Mowbray Heights Primary School.
- Electric charging facilities for vehicles, e-bikes and e-scooters.
Local Tasmanian firm, Anstie Constructions Pty Ltd, delivered the Stage 1 Early Works Package. Works included demolition, site remediation, limited services and latent conditions works. Works began in September 2023 and concluded in February 2024.
On 8 November 2023, the City of Launceston (CoL) approved the Development Application and issued a Planning Permit for Stage 2 Main Works.
Infrastructure Tasmania will continue to work with key stakeholders to deliver this exciting transformative project which is expected to open in late 2025.
Following completion of an open tender process in May 2024, Tasmanian firm Vos Construction & Joinery Pty Ltd was awarded the Stage 2 Main Works Contract to deliver the construction phase of the Hub.
Philp Lighton Architects provides design and contract management services for the project.
The design incorporates specialised advice from the Premiers Disability Advisory Committee (PDAC) to ensure we are meeting the needs of all members of our community. Early and ongoing consultations with PDAC identified the need for removal of any impediments or barriers. Including some notable access design elements.
- Accessible car parking near the main entry with access to low level EV charging stations.
- Adult Accessible Change Facility to meet the requirements of the Changing Places specification.
- Raised pedestrian crossings in the carpark with kerb ramps to provide a continuous surface and equal access from the car park.
- Lower bench height section at Reception for wheelchair users.
- Six DDA compliant bathroom amenities.
- Access to the dedicated netball courts via a ramp to provide ease of movement for all patrons.
Project Status Update 4 February 2026
Practical Completion of the Hub Stage 2 remains on track for the first quarter of 2026, with 91 per cent of the main construction works completed. However, there is more work to come following approval of the $18.9 million Hub Stage 3 expansion in the State Budget in November 2025.
Stage 3 will deliver four additional indoor courts, designed with sprung timber floors suitable for basketball and netball. This expansion will add approximately 4,600 square metres of new floor area, increasing the Hub’s total indoor usable space to around 15,000 square metres.
Construction of the expansion is expected to begin in the last quarter of 2026, following approval of a development application by City of Launceston.
Drop-in Community Information Sessions - Hub Stage 3 Expansion
If you would like to know more about what is proposed for the Hub Stage 3 expansion, the project team is hosting drop-in community information sessions. This is a chance to:
- view draft floor plans and images of the Stage 3 expansion
- learn more about the project timeline and construction process
- ask questions and share feedback directly with the project team and specialist consultants.
Date and time
- Friday 13 February 2026, 1.00 pm to 3.00 pm
- Saturday 14 February 2026, 9.00 am to 12.00 pm
Venue
St John Ambulance
330 Invermay Road, Mowbray
Next door to the Hub
No bookings are required – feel free to attend at any time during the sessions with further information available (PDF 8.8 MB).
Soil Removal Works
Approximately 16,000m³ of soil is currently stockpiled on site and its removal is needed for construction of Hub Stage 3 to commence.
This is currently being trucked to a registered waste disposal facility, in accordance with Environment Protection Authority guidelines. This trucking is expected to be completed by March 2026. A traffic alert was delivered to neighbouring properties with further information available (PDF 364.4 KB).
Previous
Timeline
2023
- Q2 2023 – Development Application for Demolition and Site Preparation – permitted (deemed to satisfy)
- Q3 2023 – Appointment of Contractor for Early Works (completed)
- Q3 2023 – Early Works Package Stage 1 – start of works (completed)
- Q4 2023 – Development Application Lodgement (completed)
- Q4 2023 – Parliamentary Standing Committee for Public Works Approval Issued (completed)
- Q4 2023 – Development Application Approved and Planning Permit Issued (completed)
2024
- Q1 2024 – Main Works Package Stage 2 -Tender released (completed)
- Q1 2024 – Main Works Package Stage 2 – Tender closed (completed)
- Q2 2024 – Main Works Package Stage 2 – works commenced
- Q4 2024 – Development Application (soil remediation) Approved and Planning Permit Issued (completed)
2025
- 2025 – Construction works – ongoing
2026
- Q1 2026 – Opening