Government’s Southern Outlet fifth lane solution ’pork-barrelling’, says Labor’s David O’Byrne

THE Hodgman Government’s Southern Outlet solution does not go far enough, the Opposition says.

South-bound traffic banking up on the southern outlet due to a single-vehicle accident in the wet weather. Picture: MATHEW FARRELL

THE State Government’s fifth-lane plan for the Southern Outlet shows there is no overall strategy to deal with population growth, opposition infrastructure spokesman David O’Byrne says.

Mr O’Byrne has accused the Hodgman Government of pork-barrelling in Franklin rather than prioritising a comprehensive plan for Hobart’s gridlock.

“They have no network plan, no land use plan and this is a key reason none of our projects have progressed with Infrastructure Australia for funding,” he said.

“Public consultation on projects in isolation of a bigger plan is futile.”

Mr O’Byrne said the fifth lane would not fix the Macquarie and Davey street bottlenecks.

He said the Government’s population growth strategy — 650,000 by 2050 — had not been backed with an infrastructure plan.

“Because of this, we are seeing people living in tents and the worst traffic congestion Tasmanian has ever seen,” he said.

“This government has no plan for infrastructure.”

The Mercury revealed last week a feasibility study’s preferred option of a central fifth lane on the outlet for buses.

The State Government has pledged $35 million for the project, which the study found could cost as much as $67 million. The study’s report was completed in January last year and Mr O’Byrne said Labor’s request for a copy under the Right To Information process had only been approved after Infrastructure Minister Jeremy Rockliff’s announcement last week.

Mr O’Byrne said questions remained about the status of bus services to Kingborough and the Huon Valley.

“What network solutions have been discussed with Metro Tasmania?” he said.

“Will there be extra funding for more bus stops or subsidised travel?

“The state of bus stops in Kingborough and the Huon Valley is a disgrace, and no one is taking responsibility for it.”

Labor had invested in the regions through the Kingston bypass and bus lane at the northern end of the outlet, Mr O’Byrne said.

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