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 15 September 2025
On 14 September 2025, the Tasmanian Government committed a further $18.8 million to deliver four additional indoor courts at the Hub in Mowbray.
This Stage 3 Hub Expansion will increase the total number of indoor courts from 7 to 11, expanding the usable indoor space to approximately 15,000 square metres, significantly enhancing the facility’s capacity to accommodate a wider range of community sports, events, and recreational activities.
Stage 2 of the Hub is now 69 per cent complete (at 15 September 2025) with practical completion on track for early 2026.
Infrastructure Tasmania is currently developing a concept design for the Stage 3 Hub Expansion and conducting further site due diligence. The design process is being guided by several key factors, including site constraints, noise minimisation strategies, planning setback requirements, and a dark sky lighting philosophy. These considerations are crucial to ensuring the new development aligns with both the environmental standards and community priorities of the area.
Once the preliminary work is complete, a Development Application (DA) will be submitted to the City of Launceston. The DA will then be publicly advertised as part of the planning process.
If you have a query about the project, please email projects@infrastructure.tas.gov.au
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