Greater Hobart Mayors want to see City Deal funding allocated in April’s Budget

Labor has shredded the Hobart City Deal as a city dud accusing the Federal Government of bundling a bunch of previous announcements and trying to peddle it as new. SEE HOW THE CASH WILL BE SPLASHED

LABOR has shredded the Hobart City Deal as a dud deal, accusing the Federal Government of bundling a bunch of previous announcements and trying to peddle it as new.

Federal Opposition infrastructure, transport and cities spokesman Anthony Albanese criticised the deal for lacking detail.

Mr Albanese said the Government was reversing a previous decision to make the airport operators pay for costs associated with becoming an international airport.

“After five years of Macquarie Point lying dormant and disused, today’s funding is welcome, but it is too little, too late,” he said.

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Mr Albanese said a Labor Government would honour the elements of any signed City Deal if the money was in the budget, but would build on it under its City Partnerships program.

Federal Labor MP for Franklin Julie Collins said the devil was always in the detail regarding the $450 million Antarctic funding, questioning how much was going to be spent at Macquarie Point in Hobart versus Antarctica.

“Last time I checked, Antarctica was not in the city of Hobart,” she said.

“It’s been over 800 days in the making and this is the best they can do.

“The large bulk of the $1.43 billion is re-announcements.”

Upgrades involved in the Hobart City Deal. Picture: LUKE BOWDEN

Upgrades involved in the Hobart City Deal. Picture: LUKE BOWDEN

Hobart Lord Mayor Anna Reynolds said: “We think this is a positive first step to greater city collaboration.

“A lot of important projects are identified in the plan, but the important next step is to work out a way to fully fund and deliver these projects to Hobart.”

Glenorchy Mayor Kristie Johnston said it would have been preferable to have a light rail system for the northern corridor fully funded, but considered the $25 million as its first significant down payment.

“We need to ensure the $25 million doesn’t get frittered away on studies and goes to infrastructure,” she said.

Kingborough Mayor Dean Winter said the coalition of Greater Hobart mayors was expecting to see the funding profiled in the first couple of years of the federal budget when it was delivered in April.

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HOW THE CASH WILL BE SPLASHED

Federal Government

$1.048 billion: includes $461m towards Bridgewater Bridge replacement, $450m in Antarctic infrastructure, $82.3m to establish border services at the Hobart Airport

State Government

$330 million: includes $115m towards Bridgewater Bridge replacement, $106m in transport infrastructure

Greater Hobart Councils

$50 million: to implement a range of measures, Smart City solutions and transport initiatives

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