Uncertainty around what $130m roads package will actually fund

New road spending to be announced in the Federal Budget has been cautiously welcomed — even though it is unclear what the money would be spent on.

THE Sorell mayor and RACT have cautiously welcomed new federal road spending in Tuesday’s budget — even if is unclear what it would be spent on and whether it would help traffic snarls.

The state and federal governments have announced $130 million in new spending on $163 million of road upgrades between Hobart and Sorell would be part of this year’s budget.

But it is unclear what projects are being funded, whether they are feasible, how much they will cost and exactly what about $136 million earmarked for the projects will pay for.

State Infrastructure Minister Jeremy Rockliff on Monday appeared to rule out that the money would be spent on duplication of the Sorell causeways.

Infrastructure Minister Jeremy Rockliff and Liberal candidate Jessica Whelan at the roads funding announcement nerxt to the causeway at Sorell. Picture: RICHARD JUPE

Sorell mayor Kerry Vincent welcomed the funding for the upgrades but he didn’t know how the money would be spent.

“We’re pretty excited about it because it brings more focus to that Hobart-to-Sorell corridor – obviously there’s a lot of detail that needs to be worked out,” Cr Vincent said.

Cr Vincent said traffic congestion and weather were the daily talking points for Sorell residents.

“Everybody down here talks about it,” he said.

Sorell Mayor Kerry Vincent. Picture: MATHEW FARRELL

“A lot of people don’t have the flexibility to change their school or work times, so they travel in bulk times.”

The $130 million is part of a $530 million roads package, the remainder of which was initially focused on the North-West and was funded in the 2018-19 budget.

RACT executive general manager membership and community Stacey Pennicott said the money might only move traffic problems further down the road.

“RACT believes that traffic congestion in the greater Hobart area is a key priority, however the $130 million for the particular area in Sorell, while it is a good initiative, is probably not enough to look at a long-term option for reducing congestion in Hobart.

“Duplication will certainly alleviate the issue around the Sorell area. What it will do is get traffic to Hobart quicker, really impacting on the traffic issues around Hobart.

“While we’re supportive of getting the traffic congestion issues fixed at Sorell, it really needs to be part of a greater plan for Hobart to ensure we’re not just getting vehicles to the city faster and then leaving the congestion in the Hobart area.”

The funding to implement the southeast traffic solution is expected to include $5 million for extra lanes and turning facilities between the airport roundabout and causeway and $7.5 million to replace the roundabout at the intersection of the Tasman Highway and Penna Road with traffic lights.

There is also expected to be $9 million for a southern bypass of Sorell and $5 million to build an overtaking lane on the uphill section of Arthur Highway, 1.5km from of Sorell.

That work totals around $27 million, leaving $136 million of the total unaccounted for — a bit more than what the causeway duplication project might cost on some estimates.

The state Liberals promised a feasibility study into the causeway duplication project would be delivered within 12 months of the 2018 election. The timetable has since blown out.

The causeway linking Midway Point to Sorell.

Mr Rockliff on Monday held a media conference in front of the Sorell Causeway and said the new federal money was not for the causeway duplication.

“This money goes to other key areas,” he said.

“It forms the part of the southeast traffic solution but the commitment in terms of the causeway was always that we would do the work in the first two years of a re-elected Hodgman Liberal government.

“That work is happening right now and my expectation is that that will be completed in early 2020.

“I’m going to consult with the community as well but also get a very clear understanding of what investment would be required to duplicate the causeway.”

Federal Lyons MP Brian Mitchell that with no consultation, feasibility studies or costings the policy was just “electioneering”.

“It’s very poor governance by the Liberal Party,” he said.

“They’ve had six years to get this right and then at the last minute they throw money at it.

“Labor will commit to duplicating the causeways, it needs to happen. Of course we need a feasibility study but I can commit as the local member to getting it done.

“The people of Sorell deserve better.”

State Labor spokesman David O’Byrne was also unimpressed.

“We’ve seen five years of inaction on any major vision or any major infrastructure investment from both state and federal Liberal parties in the last five years alone in Hobart,” he said.

“I think Tasmanians will be very cynical about the announcement in the budget.”