David O’Byrne lashes ‘thought bubble ideas’ as RTI reveals no costings on underground bus mall

Right to information documents reveal the Government has not received advice or costings on its ambitious plans for an underground bus mall in Hobart.

Artists impressions of the sunken / undergroud bus mall in Elizabeth St Hobart. Picture: Department of State Growth

RIGHT to information documents reveal the government has not yet received advice or costings on its ambitious plans for an underground bus mall in Hobart and bridge across the Tamar River in Launceston.

The Opposition has seized on the lack of information as evidence the pre-election promises were “a series of thought bubble ideas”, but Infrastructure Minister Jeremy Rockliff has defended the proposals as part of the government’s long-term vision for the state.

“We’ve already committed funding to start planning and scoping works,” Mr Rockliff said.

“We make no apologies for taking a long-term view of our state’s future infrastructure needs.”

Labor lodged a request for all information and advice — including cost options and timing — relating to the proposed Tamar bridge and underground transit centre.

In each instance Opposition infrastructure spokesman David O’Byrne was told such information did not exist.

Artists impressions of the sunken / undergroud bus mall in Elizabeth St Hobart. Picture: Department of State Growth

On the underground bus mall announced for Hobart’s CBD, a State Growth Department bureaucrat said: “ … [We] failed to locate information relevant to your request as work on a proposal has not yet commenced.”

However, the department affirmed the Government’s commitment to the development with an attachment acknowledging the Liberals’ $750,000 pledge “to advance this project”.

Phase one would examine site options that “might or could” become available in the CBD that “may benefit from an underground or partial underground capability”, they said.

On the Northern bridge, which would connect the East and West Tamar highways, Mr O’Byrne was told the government had committed to feasibility, planning, design and public consultation, as well as submitting an application to Infrastructure Australia.

Artists impressions of a light rail in Hobart. Picture: Department of State Growth

“As yet, the department has not commenced work on the feasibility study. The expectation is for the project to be completed in 10 years,” the right to information document said.

“As the planning for the project has not yet commenced, the department does not have any further information relevant to your request.”

Mr O’Byrne said Tasmanians had been dudded.

An artists impressions of the sunken or underground bus mall in Elizabeth Street, Hobart. Picture: Department of State Growth

“The Government has had zero work done to inform them whether they were good ideas or bad ideas, and the result is that the Tasmanian people thought they were getting something when they voted and now you’ve got a government that is absolutely scrambling to add substance to these thought bubble ideas,” he said.

Artists impressions of the undergroud bus mall in Elizabeth St Hobart. Picture: Department of State Growth

Infrastructure Minister Jeremy Rockliff said it would have been inappropriate for the government to direct the public service to examine the projects during the election shutdown.

The Premier and Opposition leader can submit proposals to Treasury for costing during caretaker mode, and the right to information request was made late July.