International flights upgrade as part of City Deal: PM
UPDATED: International flights to and from Hobart Airport will begin as early as next year under a new plan signed under the Hobart City Deal. PM Scott Morrison said the Federal Government would ensure Australian Federal Police resourcing was in place by the time flights were taking off.
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UPDATE: 10.30AM: INTERNATIONAL flights to and from Hobart Airport will begin as early as next year under a new plan signed under the Hobart City Deal.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison flew into Hobart this morning to sign the ten-year, $1.43 billion Hobart City Deal with Tasmanian Premier Will Hodgman, Federal Minister for Cities, Urban Infrastructure and Population Alan Tudge, Treasurer Peter Gutwein and local mayors.
Mr Morrison said the Federal Government would ensure Australian Federal Police resourcing was in place by the time flights were taking off.
Mr Tudge described it as a transformative deal that would benefit not just Hobart but the state.
The mayors of Hobart, Kingborough, Clarence and Glenorchy welcomed the Hobart City Deal, and but said it was only the beginning and the next step would be to implement the plan.
There was no money in the deal for the $400 million University of Tasmania STEM centre or dedicated funding for a light rail system connecting Glenorchy to Hobart.
EARLIER: THE transformation of Hobart airport into an international gateway — with border security and passport checkpoints — will form a key plank in a City Deal to be signed off in Hobart today.
Hobart’s long-awaited City Deal will be revealed as a 10-year, $1.43 billion commitment spread across tourism, science, traffic solutions and affordable housing.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison flies into Hobart airport Sunday morning to sign the deal, which is expected to create 720 jobs.
A newly revealed feature of the deal will see Hobart airport upgraded for international flights, through $82.3 million in funding for border services, customs and biosecurity.
The capital injection will make Hobart airport ready for direct arrivals from international airlines.
The City Deal will also transform Macquarie Point into an Antarctic and science hub, with $450 million spread across the newly activated waterfront precinct and the network of Antarctic research stations.
Mr Morrison said the landmark agreement, which relies on collaboration between all three levels of government, was aimed at backing Tasmania’s fast-growing tourism and science industries.
“Our Hobart City Deal will open the city and Tasmania up for locals and for the world,” Mr Morrison said.
“The $1.43 billion investment going into the Hobart City Deal is about driving investment into the city to make it an even better place to live and work, but also to drive benefits well beyond Hobart for all Tasmanians, whether in the north or the south, especially through the investment in the airport.”
The deal will fund the upgrade needed for Hobart Airport to become a secure international gateway, with border-force authorities and customs infrastructure and staff to oversee passports.
Extra funding will also be spent on biosecurity at Hobart Airport, to maintain the state’s strict quarantine laws in the face of increasing foreign arrivals.
The Sunday Tasmanian understands if an international carrier does operate out of Hobart airport, the Federal Government will ensure Australian Federal Police resourcing is in place.
The City Deal will also see the Commonwealth provide more than $450 million for the upgrade of Australia’s Antarctic research station network and supporting infrastructure to cement Hobart’s position as the gateway to Antarctica.
State Treasurer Peter Gutwein said the City Deal would create a world-class Antarctic and scientific precinct at Macquarie Point.
“Macquarie Point is one of the most attractive, centrally located capital city development sites in the entire country,” Mr Gutwein said.
“By taking full advantage of the site’s potential we can unlock millions of dollars of investment, create hundreds of jobs and deliver a hub that will serve the community for generations to come.”
Federal Environment Minister Melissa Price said the package would build on Hobart’s Antarctic research capacity.
“With Hobart the gateway to Eastern Antarctica, this funding package will create new jobs in Tasmania and build on our world leading research capacity,” Ms Price said.
Tasmanian Premier Will Hodgman said the investments would be a game-changer for the people who lived and worked in and around Hobart.
“Through collaboration between all three levels of government, the City Deal secures $1.43 billion of investment and a long term plan to help facilitate growth, create jobs and improve liveability for our State’s capital,” Mr Hodgman said.
“The Deal creates the right conditions to protect our enviable way of life while, enhance Hobart’s natural amenity, and secure its reputation as a vibrant, liveable and connected city.”
The City Deal has also committed an extra $25 million In Commonwealth funding and $105.5 of state funding to ease traffic congestion around Hobart. Projects include $576 million to replace the Bridgewater Bridge, funding for a fifth lane on the Southern Outlet and a bus interchange at Kingston.
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A further $30 million has been earmarked for affordable housing, delivering 100 new dwellings in partnership with community providers.
Federal Cities, Urban Infrastructure and Population minister Alan Tudge said the deal relied on co-operation between all three levels of government.
“The Deal will make sure we get ahead of the curve on population growth, bust congestion and address housing affordability issues,” Mr Tudge said.
LET’S MAKE A DEAL
$1.43 billion investment of the Hobart City Deal is a 10-year contract between three levels of government.
It includes:
An international gateway — $82.3 million for border services including immigration, customs and biosecurity at Hobart International Airport.
Busting congestion — An extra $25 million from the Federal Government and $105.5 million from the Stated Government for projects including the Kingston bus interchange, easing traffic congestion in the Kingston area and activating the northern suburbs transit corridor, on top of the $576 million replacement of the Bridgewater Bridge, funding for a fifth lane on the Southern Outlet and setting up a Derwent River ferry service
Affordable housing — Boosting the supply of community housing across the city with a
$30 million investment from the Federal Government for projects in partnership with community housing providers, delivering over 100 new dwellings.
WHAT THEY’VE SAID:
“The Northern Suburbs Transit Corridor is a priority area for urban renewal under the City Deal. A greater diversity of housing solutions will be encouraged along the corridor and this will support the future delivery of the most effective public transport solution, while also reducing congestion.”
Attorney-General Elise Archer
“Separated cycleways are being planned for and rolled out in other cities around Australia to help reduce traffic congestion, and the same should go for Hobart. Investing in a separated cycleways network in Hobart … would go a long way to giving people transport options other than driving.”
Bicycle Network Tasmania spokeswoman Alison Hetherington
“Replacing the Bridgewater Bridge … has been a funding priority for the RACT for a number of years. The RACT is encouraged by the announcement and is looking forward to the release of information around timelines for the replacement of the bridge.”
RACT Group CEO Harvey Lennon
“We need to be thinking about tunnels to ease congestion points. If a single thing goes wrong across the city — from the bridge to the Brooker — the whole place grinds to a halt.”
Independent candidate for Nelson , Madeleine Ogilvie
“The $1.43 billion investment going into the Hobart City Deal is about driving investment into the city to make it an even better place to live and work, but also to drive benefits well beyond Hobart for all Tasmanians.”
Prime Minister, Scott Morrison
anne.mather@news.com.au
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