{
  "id": 18352935,
  "title": "Nearly $2m compo paid to company over scrapped Macquarie Point power plan",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/05/nearly-2m-compo-paid-to-company-over-scrapped-macquarie-point-power",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-11-05T18:41:59.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "ABC News AU",
    "slug": "abc-news-au",
    "url": "https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-11-06/millions-paid-for-scrapped-power-plan-macquarie-point-stadium/107350818"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The Tasmanian government has paid Veolia, a waste and energy company, approximately $2 million to abandon plans for a thermal power plant at Macquarie Point, the site for a proposed Hobart stadium. Veolia had signed an agreement with the Macquarie Point Development Corporation (MPDC) to create a District Energy Infrastructure Scheme (DEIS), which included a thermal energy plant. However, the government is now exploring alternative power sources for the stadium site. Tasmanian Greens Deputy Leader Vica Bayley criticized the government for what he called a \"slow-moving train wreck\" by willingly spending millions of taxpayer dollars on abandoned projects. The final cost of Veolia's exit was revealed to be $1,788,236.50, including GST, and was paid on June 24, 2026. The minister in charge of the precinct, Eric Abetz, stated that connecting to the current network was a lower risk and cost-effective option compared to continuing with the thermal energy plant concept. The DEIS predated any discussions on the stadium development and is not required for the project.",
  "summary": "The Tasmanian government has paid about $2 million to not build a thermal power plant at Macquarie Point, the site of the planned Hobart stadium.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}