Glenorchy Mayor pleads not to spend $25M on light rail study, but creating infrastructure

The huge sum of cash set aside for the northern suburbs transport corridor should be spend on building, rather than more reports, Glenorchy’s mayor says, urging the state government to “just start building the bloody thing”.

• Mayors and light rail supporters raise queries over hidden consultants report
• Government hits the drawing board over mass public transit options

THE $25 million set aside for a public transport link to Hobart’s northern suburbs must not be frittered away on yet more studies but should be spent constructing infrastructure for light rail, Glenorchy Mayor Kristie Johnston says.

A $300,000 consultant’s report this week highlighted light rail’s city-transforming potential, but stopped short of recommending rail over a dedicated rapid bus link.

Now was the time for decisive leadership, not more dithering, Ms Johnston said.

“Get the detailed engineering design done and then from that, which might cost a million or two to do, you just start spending on the first lot of infrastructure.

“And then you just start building the bloody thing.

Glenorchy Mayor Kristie Johnston. Picture: LUKE BOWDEN

“You could replace the entire corridor for $25 million. Rip up the old track out and put in new tracks out there for $25 million. — a and that’s a pretty damn good start.

She said the community’s response to the release of this week’s report was uniform.

“They’re frustrated that it’s looking like more reports are coming and frustrated because people think it’s obvious what PwC has said in their report – that this will be a game changer for us creating homes and jobs,” she said.

“And they want to catch, it they I want just want to get to get on the train. So they’re frustrated beyond belief.”

Premier Peter Gutwein says the government is working through the process of determining the best option for the old rail corridor under the Hobart City Deal.

Premier Peter Gutwein. Picture: Zak Simmonds

“One of the key things that I think is absolutely important with the northern suburbs transport corridor is it that corridor regardless of what type of transport is used on it provides a link that will enable planning and rezoning to occur, it will open up accommodation options and other living arrangements that could see that corridor or areas near that corridor, flourish.

“The key issue is the transport link whether it is light rail or trackless trams or some form of other public transport.

Northern Suburbs Rail Action Group president Michael Hangan said the report was the 24th on the corridor.

“The community is tired of endless studies. How hard is it to put trains back on the track we already have?” he said.

The remaining rail from regatta grounds North .Garney Pearce and Ben Johnston from the Hobart Northern Suburbs rail action group on the section of rail line that has been removed to the regatta grounds. Picture: RICHARD JUPE

“Every other Australian capital city is progressing urban rail projects, yet in Hobart we’re stuck in the slow lane – still pondering if rail is the best mode for a rail corridor.

Labor’s Infrastructure spokesman Shane Broad said Labor had always preferred rail.

“In five years this government has conceded that it has done nothing and Labor will hold them to account for that.

“The Liberals promised to have a service running by 2023 but under Michael Ferguson it has received the kiss of death.

“This Minister is simply incapable of getting infrastructure projects out the door.

And Greens leader Cassy O’Connor said the Liberals were “dawdling”.

“In the context of a positive COVID recovery that invests in the future of Hobart, light rail would be transformative,” she said.

“Enough studies and consultants, enough excessive make-work construction funding for roads. Light rail is the future. Hobart needs it and so do its people.”

“WHY ISN’T OUR COMMUNITY WORTH THIS SORT OF INVESTMENT?”

THE Hobart light rail line which could have been built for $100 million a decade ago could now cost as much as $685 million, a consultant’s report says.

The local mayor says the government should just get on with building a project she says would reshape the city and deliver 1200 new jobs and 4600 new homes.

Infrastructure minister Michael Ferguson released the Northern Suburbs Transit Corridor Transport Mode Study Options Assessment Report during parliamentary budgets estimates hearings in Tuesday.

The $300,000 PwC found that light rail could be built for as little as $291 million, bus rapid transit for $221 million and trackless trams for $249 million.

Increasing the length of the route and allowing for contingencies could increase the potential cost to as high as $685 million for light rail, $512 million for buses and $588 million for trackless trams.

DAYS PAST: The remaining rail from regatta grounds North. Picture: RICHARD JUPE

The report found light rail would do the most to achieve “city shaping”.

“There is an opportunity under this mode to unlock medium density residential and mixed use development around station catchments, and significant potential to support the turnover of existing industrial land to residential and mixed uses,” it said.

“Light rail was however found to be the highest cost mass transit option, with bus rapid identified as the lowest cost and with the lowest deliverability and implementation risk

The trackless trams were ruled out.

“Trackless tram is currently an untested transport solution in Australia”.

In 2018, then Transport Minister Rene Hidding promised light rail within five years, but the report says the chosen option could be operational by 2026.

Glenorchy mayor Kristie Johnston said the report showed light rail as the hands-down winner and urged the government to get on with it.

“Why isn’t our community worth this sort of investment? If this was in the north of the state it would be delivered tomorrow,” she said.

“Passenger rail needs to be built now, our community needs it. It’s time that we delivered on the commitments of previous governments and the current government to deliver passenger rail to our community.

Images of the latest Hobart light rail proposal.

“The figures in the report are large, but the consultants themselves admit this is a desktop study of a rail corridor that they themselves haven’t visited.”

Labor member for Elwick Josh Willie described the report’s release as “yet another important infrastructure project going backwards on Michael Ferguson’s watch”.

“Nearly three years after promising the northern rail corridor would be operating within five years, the project has fallen victim to Michael Ferguson’s trademark incompetence,” he said.

“The Liberals cannot keep stalling on this game changer for the northern suburbs and Greater Hobart.”

Mr Ferguson said more reports were needed.

“While the study found all three options had high capital costs, it recommended further work be undertaken to investigate the modes and to progress the existing rail corridor,” he said.

The federal government set aside $25 million to “activate” the transit corridor in the Hobart City Deal.

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