Hobart Airport roundabout upgrade delays labelled ‘absurd’

Delays to improvements to the Hobart Airport roundabout show the Federal Government does not care about southern Tasmania, the Labor Party says.

Federal Labor Leader Anthony Albanese, second from left, with Federal Franklin MP Julie Collins, left, Federal Lyons MP Brian Mitchell and Labor Senator for Tasmania Carol Brown at the Hobart Airport roundabout. Picture: MATT THOMPSON

FEDERAL Labor says the long delay in starting work on improvements to the Hobart Airport roundabout is a symptom of a complacent government that doesn’t care about southern Tasmania.

Opposition leader Anthony Albanese visited Hobart today and inspected the site.

The Federal Government last month said it would bring forward spending of $173 million in Tasmania as part of plans to pump $3.8 billion into the national economy by fast-tracking road and rail projects.

That included money for the long-delayed $30 million to $50 million Airport roundabout project.

FEDERAL FUNDING TO FAST TRACK HOBART TRAFFIC FIX

State Infrastructure Minister Jeremy Rockliff and then-Liberal candidate Jane Howlett announcing temporary measures to reduce traffic congestion at the Hobart Airport roundabout in April 2018. Picture: PATRICK GEE

Mr Albanese said he could not understand the lengthy delays.

“This was promised, not before the last election, was promised by the Coalition before the election before the last election,” he said..

“This is just absurd that a simple project like fixing this roundabout, this choke point, can’t be fixed in the interests of efficiency, but also in the interests of road safety

“This project is symbolic of the massive gap between the Morrison Government’s rhetoric on infrastructure and the action.

“We have absolutely nothing happen here after more than four years. They haven’t dug a hole in the ground. We know there’s a cost blow out of $20 million additional funding will be required. And still nothing happens.”

Mr Albanese said the Morrison Government was neglecting southern Tasmania.

Federal Franklin MP Julie Collins said commuters had been waiting too long.

“We made an announcement on this site almost four years ago about the need to upgrade the Hobart airport roundabout,” she said.

“What we’ve seen from the state and federal Liberals is complete inaction. We still don’t have a finalised budget, or a finalised plan or finalised start date.

“It’s been almost four years. How long does it take this Government to actually get the job done?”