Second annual progress report for the $887m City Deal provides a snapshot key focus areas

A progress report on the Hobart City Deal lists where some major projects are at. DETAILS >>

• War of words breaks out on Hobart’s worsening traffic situation
• New Bridgewater bridge declared a Major Project

KEY aspirations of the Hobart City Deal, including increasing tourism and decreasing housing stress, have been dealt a blow amid the COVID-19 crisis.

Released quietly earlier this month, the second annual progress report for the $887m City Deal provides a snapshot of the deal’s key focus areas, two years into a 10-year plan.

The deal is a partnership between the federal, state and Hobart area local councils, with funding included to progress aims in tourism, housing, public transport, Antarctic science and development.

The aim to build a direct international gateway to Tasmania via Hobart Airport has suffered a major setback due to COVID-19.

In the year to June 2020, Tasmania welcomed around 200,000 international visitors, compared to around 300,000 in the year to June 2019.

In housing, the plan outlines steps being taken to address the city’s housing crisis.

These included a federal government partnership with community housing providers to deliver at least 100 new social housing dwellings in Greater Hobart and the state government affordable housing strategy and council efforts to release more residential land for affordable housing.

However, key performance indicators in the report show the percentage of households in housing stress – those on lower incomes paying more than 30 per cent on their income on housing – had grown from 22.5 per cent to 24.7 per cent.

Some of the key projects linked to the City Deal include River Derwent ferries, Northern Suburbs light rail, development at Macquarie Point and the Bridgewater bridge.

Updates on these and other City Deal linked projects in the report included:

THE Bridgewater bridge – two tenderers have been selected to enter a competitive design process, with a contract due to we awarded at the end of this year.

One of the options for the new Bridgewater Bridge would see a new four-lane bridge built, with two lanes in each direction.

DERWENT ferries – tenders for a trial service closed in January and a trial is due to commence some time this year.

NORTHERN suburbs transit corridor – a report was release last year highlighting the transformative potential of rail, however did not recommend it over rapid bus transport. Another consultant is due to be engaged to “progress an agreed vision for the area surrounding the transit corridor as part of the Northern Suburbs Transit Corridor

Growth Strategy.”

MACQUARIE Point – a second detailed examination of Antarctic science precinct options is due to take place in 2021. The report says 80 per cent of the site has now been remediated ready for development. Work continues on the decommissioning of the wastewater treatment plant, a project set to take four years.