City Deal tipped to be wrapped up by Christmas, although details remain scant

A HOBART City deal could be signed by Christmas, but there were scant details revealed when Federal Minister for Cities, Urban Infrastructure and Population Alan Tudge visited Hobart.

State Treasurer Peter Gutwein, left, and Federal Cities, Urban Infrastructure and Population Minister Alan Tudge. Picture: MATHEW FARRELL

A HOBART City deal could be signed by Christmas.

Federal Minister for Cities, Urban Infrastructure and Population Alan Tudge visited Hobart on Friday for a meeting with local mayors.

He said a final announcement was close.

But aside from the already-announced $461 million Bridgewater Bridge, there was no new detail or funding revealed.

There was a promise there would be no “net decrease in government jobs and economic footprint within the Kingborough region” if the Antarctic Division moved.

And participants expressed delight at the apparently novel idea of all three levels of government working together for the greater good.

Labor criticised the process as vague and opaque, but Mr Tudge said the City Deal process had lofty aims.

“The aspiration of the City Deal is for the three levels of government to work co-operatively together to make this city an even better place to live,” he said.

“It’s going to involve transportation, it will involve housing it will involve the Macquarie Point redevelopment and other aspects of the deal. We’re getting close to finalising the deal. We hope to complete it by the end of the year.

“The details will come out in terms of what the specific funding will be when we finally announce the deal.

“I think the most important aspect of the deal is actually creating a governance model whereby these three levels of government — federal, state and local — can work together and plan better for the future.”

Minister Alan Tudge and Treasurer Peter Gutwein met with several of Greater Hobart’s newly elected mayors about the City Deal. Picture: MATHEW FARRELL

Elements of the City Deal floated to date include the $400 million University of Tasmania STEM centre, a light rail system and modern public transport as well as redevelopment of Macquarie Point, including an Antarctic Precinct.

Tasmanian Treasurer Peter Gutwein said: “This is a 10-year vision and it is a 10-year deal that will see federal, state and local government working together to achieve a range of outcomes.”

He said the priorities would be “the Antarctic precinct, better and more affordable housing in Hobart, looking after the transport needs of the city and the broader region”.

“But importantly this is not a Christmas stocking, what this will do is provide the framework for the three levels of government to work collaboratively together to achieve significant outcomes for not just Hobart but for the greater Hobart region.

“We have made it very clear that Kingborough is not prepared to risk any further jobs leaving Kingborough,” he said.

Labor’s David O’Byrne said the process to date had been “all spin, no substance”.

“Tasmanians want tangible outcomes, not more talk, on the long-discussed City Deal for Hobart after the Morrison Government’s Cities Minister breezed in and out of the state today but announced exactly nothing,” he said.