Funding promises: How the State Budget affects your region

TREASURER Peter Gutwein has handed down his fifth Budget which included plenty of big-ticket items. So how did your region fare?

TREASURER Peter Gutwein has handed down his fifth Budget which included plenty of big-ticket items. So how did your region fare?

SOUTH

A $73.8 million Greater Hobart traffic vision to alleviate congestion makes up the most significant budget promise for southern Tasmania, including a fifth lane for the Southern Outlet, River Derwent ferry service and planning for a new bus transit centre.

The Government has promised $30.8 million for the traffic vision over the forward estimates, with much of the money backended into later years.

Projects also include acquiring the Macquarie and Davey street couplet, establishing a traffic incident response team, and cycling and pedestrian infrastructure.

There will be $3.3 million for the vision in 2018-19, followed by $6.3 million the following year and $7.6 million in 2020-21.

The State Government is planning a fifth lane on the Southern Outlet. Picture: SAM ROSEWARNE

NORTH

ONE Northern Tasmanian municipality is “almost desperate” to be the host of a new $340 million prison in the state’s north, Treasurer Peter Gutwein says.

Mr Gutwein said the next move was for a conversation with affected communities.

“I think it would be fair to say there are some municipalities that are more willing and some are almost desperate to get hold of an investment such as this,” he said.

He said that while a prison would provide an economic fillip, some people were more cautious than others.

He said the prison was likely to be within 30 to 45 minutes of the Launceston Magistrates Court.

There is $45 million in the Budget across the forward estimates.

Mr Gutwein said the chance for a co-located Calvary hospital in the north was a fantastic opportunity.

“I think that would be a significant opportunity which would bring more than $100 million into the Launceston community,” he said.

“It is one we will grasp with both hands.”

There is more money for developments at the Launceston General Hospital.

The Budget says the process has gone to the second stage under the direction of the Co-ordinator General including the identification of a suitable site near the Launceston General Hospital.

The Government has ruled out giving away public land for the hospital.

The North of the state will benefit from significant developments at the LGH including a new car park worth $42 million, a $6.6 million ward upgrade and staff cost of $11.2 million as well as the employment of 40 nursing gradates at the cost of $3.4 million.

The Budget contains nearly $20 million for schools and $53 million for roads including an upgrade of the West Tamar highway.

The Burnie Supreme and Magisterial Courts building.

NORTH-WEST

AN $8 million upgrade of Burnie’s outdated court complex, more hospital beds and more than $24 million to upgrade state roads – including an overpass at Leith – are highlights of North-west specific measures in this year’s Budget.

The Mersery Community Hospital will benefit from a $35 million investment and a new eight-bed acute medical unit will open at the North-West Regional Hospital.

Another $10.5 million will go to stage two of the King Island Hospital Redevelopment and timber miller Hermal received a $7 million grant to underpin its proposective $190 million plantation mill at Hampshire.

Sumac Rd and Tarkine Drive will be upgraded and new early learning hubs will be established in West Ulverstone and Waratah-Wynyard.

The Burnie Ambulance Station will be improved with $6 million in funding allocated.

BY THE NUMBERS

Surplus: 161 million, up 115 per cent.

Revenue: $6.22 billion, up 3 per cent.

Expenditure: 6.06 billion, up 1.6 per cent

Growth: predicated to be 2.25 per cent

Unemployment: Expected to remain steady at 6 per cent.

Population growth: 0.7 per cent — about 3600 more people.

SELECTED MAJOR SPENDING INITIATIVES

Most of the spending had already been announced during the recent state election campaign. Some projects include contributions from the Federal Government and most funding is over the next four financial years — or longer.

STATEWIDE

A record $2.6 billion in infrastructure spending over the next four years

An additional $757 million in health spending for more beds and staff over the next six years

$324 million over six years for 358 more teachers and to extend all high schools to Year 12

$192 million for more school and TasTAFE infrastructure

125 more police, a $2 million crackdown on shoplifting and upgrades for SES and TFS volunteer units.

Promised payroll tax cuts are designed to create 650 additional jobs and support the employment of 4500 apprentices

$125 million for the second stage of the Government’s affordable housing strategy

$20.2 million for the second stage of the family violence action plan

Upgrades worth $22 million for new police stations at New Norfolk and Longford and an Emergency Service Hub at Sorell

Money as promised for more park rangers and free parks passes for seniors

$20 million to find Tasmania’s next iconic walk to rival the Overland Track

Caps on power and water and sewerage price rises at CPI

SOUTH

New Bridgewater Bridge — $121 million

Southern Remand Centre and Risdon Prison upgrades — $79.3 million

Greater Hobart Traffic vision — $30.8 million

RHH ward and airconditioning upgrades — $28 million

25 new mental health beds — $28.3 million

New K-12 Sorell School — $27.5 million

More paramedics (statewide) $14.9 million

Sorell Emergency Services Hub — $12 million

Visitor roads upgrade package — $15.5 million

Trades and Water Centre of Excellence — $7 million

Cosgrove High School revamp — $5 million

Lansdowne Crescent Primary School — $4.7 million

Taroona High School — $4.8 million

Southern Support School — $4.3 million

Royal Botanical Gardens new visitor centre — $3.6 million

New Brighton High School — $3 million

Snug Primary — $2.5 million

Hobart College — $2.5 million

NORTH-WEST

Cradle Mountain Visitor Experience — $72 million

Mersey Community Hospital infrastructure — $35 million

State road upgrades, Bass Highway and cycling improvements — $21 million

King Island Hospital stage 2 — $10.5 million

Devonport High School — $10.5 million

Burnie Ambulance Station — $6 million

K-12 School Penguin — $20m

Upgrades to Burnie Court complex — $8 million

New agriculture centre of excellence — $5 million

Tasmanian Christmas Carnivals — $600,000

Strahan air passenger service trial — $300,000

NORTH

New Northern Prison — $45 million

LGH redevelopment and increased parking — $42.2 million

Launceston and Tamar Valley Traffic Vision — $53 million

LGH Ward 4K upgrades and new beds — $17.8 million

St Helens Hospital Redevelopment — $7.8 million

Riverside High School — $11.6 million

New Legana High School — $5 million

East Launceston Primary School — $4.3 million

Launceston Airport road access — $3.5 million

Northern Tasmania Tennis Centre — $2 million