Media Statement - 1st November 2007
A Rudd Labor government will invest nearly a third of a billion dollars in major road and rail projects to end logjam by getting trucks out of towns, creating a transport ‘super-hub’ at Brighton and linking key land, air and sea infrastructure.
Shadow Minister for Transport, Roads and Tourism, Martin Ferguson, said the $303 million package was about Labor’s core business – jobs.
“Labor’s $303 million investment will build infrastructure to support industry, economic development and wealth creation for Tasmania – meaning jobs for the future.
“It’s also about improving quality of life and safety by shifting heavy trucks, especially log trucks, out of local streets and towns.
“That’s a win for the community and the economy.
“The Tasmanian Labor government has worked hard to increase the competitiveness of the Tasmanian economy and create more jobs and wealth for hard working Tasmanian families.
“Now a Federal Labor government will end a decade of Howard-Costello neglect of Tasmanian transport infrastructure and get Tasmania moving again.”
Federal Labor’s investment[1] in Southern Tasmania’s road and rail network includes:
- $131 million to build the $164 million Brighton Bypass and upgrade of the East Derwent Highway
- $56 million to build the $79 million new Brighton Transport Hub
- $24 million for rail capacity improvements at Rhyndaston on the main north-south rail line
- $30 million to upgrade the Derwent Valley rail line from Boyer to Karanja
- $11 million towards a $14 million upgrade of the Bridgewater Bridge
- $5 million towards a $6.2 million investment to start planning the Pontville-Bagdad Bypass and new Bridgewater Bridge
- An increased commitment of $31 million to national network road maintenance (southern and northern Tasmania) over the AusLink II period
- $15 million towards the $33.5 million Kingston Bypass under the Strategic Regional Program (previously announced 8 July 2007)
The projects, worth a total of $382 million, will be fully funded and delivered in partnership with the Tasmanian government from now through to 2014.
“We will also extend Tasmania’s national network to include the Brooker Highway from Granton to the Port of Hobart and the Tasman Highway from Hobart to Hobart Airport.
Mr Ferguson said the key to Labor’s plan was improving regional freight links with Hobart’s CBD and the port, airport and a new transport and logistics ‘super-hub’ at Brighton.
“ Hobart’s northern road approaches are a disgrace and urgent work is needed.
“You’ve got b-doubles and barinas competing for the same bit of neglected road, creating an economic logjam and a real safety issue.
“Labor will build a new 9.5km four-lane highway from the roundabout at the junction of the Midland and East Derwent Highways to the northern side of Pontville, completely bypassing Brighton.”
A new, purpose-built transport and logistics hub will then be developed at Brighton for road and rail container freight and log handling.
“The bottom line is, this means fewer trucks on the Midland and Brooker Highways tearing through local towns.
“And importantly, this modern, transport ‘super-hub’ will allow the current waterfront railyards site to be redeveloped as the new Royal Hobart Hospital,” Mr Ferguson said.
To get the most out of this new intermodal transport hub and deliver productivity gains for business, the main north-south rail line will be upgraded to remove tight curves on steep grades approaching Rhyndaston tunnel and on two other sections south of Antill Ponds.
This will allow increased speeds, longer trains and bigger loads, cutting turnaround times, delivering greater efficiency and the ability for rail to compete with road for a greater share of the freight task.
The Derwent Valley rail line and bridges will also be upgraded from Boyer to Karanja to reduce the number of log trucks on the road.
The Bridgewater Bridge will undergo major maintenance to extend its life to 2017 and the lifting mechanism will be repaired to allow vessels to pass underneath it again.
In the longer term a new Bridgewater Bridge will be required together with the Pontville-Bagdad Bypass and Labor will provide funding to start planning for the future now.
Together these projects will dramatically cut rail turnaround time between Hobart and northern ports and improve productivity for business.
The projects will get trucks off the road in the greater Hobart area, easing congestion and significantly improving road safety, travel times and quality of life for local communities.
South of Hobart, the Kingston Bypass will also be built, as promised in July.
This is an important project to unchoke roads for local communities in Hobart’s southern growth corridor.
“I am pleased to announce today that a Rudd Labor government will get behind Paul Lennon’s vision for a modern, competitive Tasmanian economy with this $303 million investment in a cutting edge, state of the art, efficient intermodal transport system for Southern Tasmania.
“This is good for jobs, good for business and good for local communities.
“Federal Labor’s Senators, members and candidates have been right behind this proposal and I look forward to working with them to deliver for Southern Tasmania after more than a decade of neglect by the Howard-Costello government.
“This initiative recognises the importance of intermodalism and the integration of the land transport network with air and sea terminals,” Mr Ferguson said.