Hobart infrastructure: A new Tasman Bridge, ferries in 30-year plan for city

A new Tasman Bridge is just one of several big-ticket items on a new 30-year infrastructure vision for Tasmania, released quietly by the State Government.

A FOCUS on a more urban lifestyle, progressing proposed large-scale energy projects, and furthering plans for international airport connections have been identified as priorities in the State Government’s long-awaited 30-year infrastructure strategy.

A “consultation draft” of the strategy quietly released to stakeholders also floats the idea of a second Tasman Bridge, proposes ferry stops along the Derwent, and raises the idea of an Eastern Bypass of Launceston.

Among key directions outlined in the document, the strategy also proposes:

AN agenda to achieve greater levels of urban infill, higher density development and affordable housing, to minimise impacts of future growth on arterial roads;

THE creation of a long-term Tasmanian health infrastructure strategy;

ASSESSING the merits of conducting a trial of autonomous vehicles in Tasmania;

THE establishment of a fast charging electric vehicle station state network to support the uptake of electric cars.

A new Tasman Bridge is included in a 30-year infrastructure strategy for Tasmania.

State Growth Minister Michael Ferguson made reference to the strategy during Question Time in parliament yesterday when asked by Liberal colleague John Tucker about infrastructure.

Mr Ferguson said the document had been posted to Infrastructure Tasmania’s website last week.

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“This strategy has required input from a number of parties, including government agencies and state-owned companies with infrastructure responsibilities,’’ he said.

Mr Ferguson later spruiked the Government’s $3.6 billion infrastructure program, which it said would support the creation of 10,000 jobs during the next four years.

A ferry service on the Derwent, like that in this artist's impression provided by the world-leading ferry builder Incat, is included in a 30-year vision for the state.

But opposition infrastructure spokesman Shane Broad described the strategy as a “cruel hoax”.

“There has been no consultation and no projects, no recommendations and no development timelines,’’ he said.

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“It’s a mix of consultants’ buzzwords and captain obvious statements that would be fodder for multiple episodes of Utopia.

“This has no doubt cost Tasmanians millions and Michael Ferguson should be embarrassed.”

The RACT called for “action, not vision” after the release of the strategy.

“While we agree with some of the key points in the strategy, such as liveable cities, a focus on settlement strategies and future planning, we are disappointed there is no plan of action behind the strategy,’’ RACT’s executive general manager of membership and community Stacey Pennicott said.

“We see some similarities with our 30-year Greater Hobart Mobility Vision, but where ours differs is that we have set out actions to make things happen.”