Kristie Johnstone is calling on action on the Hobart City Deal

A Greater Hobart mayor has spoken out against sluggish key Hobart City Deal projects, saying the community wants to see less talk and more shovels in the ground.

GLENORCHY’S mayor has lashed the lack of action on key Hobart City Deal projects, saying her community wants to see shovels in the ground instead of more money being spent on business cases and consultancies.

Monday marked one year since Prime Minister Scott Morrison flew into Hobart to sign the 10-year deal, with critics arguing not enough has been achieved in the past 12 months.

One of the key projects for the Glenorchy region is the activation of the Northern Suburbs Transit Corridor, which has already faced delays.

“The time for action is now,’’ Mayor Kristie Johnston said yesterday.

“We desperately need to see some concrete action on the ground, particularly in relation to the rail corridor, which would have to be one of the most studied pieces of land in southern Tasmania.”

NBL owner and executive chairman Larry Kestelman, Glenorchy Mayor Kristie Johnston and Tasmanian Premier Peter Gutwein today announced that the leagues 10th team would be based in Tasmania. Picture: ZAK SIMMONDS

Ald Johnston said an analysis of the best mode of transport for the corridor had not yet been done, and was overdue based on timelines in the implementation plan.

“It seems very clear to members of the public that rail is the best option and it was needed yesterday,’’ she said.

“We want to see something on the ground, that people can see and touch, not [money] frittered away on further business cases and studies that only make consultants richer.

“I get stopped in the street all the time by people saying ‘when are we going to get a passenger rail service’ ... at the moment all I can say is there are more studies being done. It doesn’t satisfy them and it doesn’t satisfy our council either.”

Kingborough Mayor Dean Winter said his municipality could not afford delays to $20.8 million of funding under the deal to address traffic woes.

“The implementation plan was signed late last year and that is the document that locks all three levels of government into real action,’’ he said.

“We continue to be one of the fastest growing areas in Tasmania as we deal with record numbers of development applications every month.

“Major developments are under way or in late stages of planning at Kingston Park, Spring Farm, Whitewater Creek and Huntingfield.

“That growth has not been supported by investment in major public infrastructure and that has undoubtedly led to the congestion issues we are experiencing both in a local context and for commuters travelling in the city.”

Hobart Lord Mayor Anna Reynolds speaking at the signing of the Hobart City Deal. Picture: LUKE BOWDEN

Hobart Lord Mayor Anna Reynolds said the council was satisfied the City Deal process was unpacking public transport and congestion issues.

“We are hopeful that the time for action on key city projects is getting closer,’’ she said.

“We will be keeping a close eye on the results from various consultancies and looking for further funding commitments to ensure projects are delivered soon.”

Last year, the Hobart, Kingborough and Glenorchy mayors questioned whether the centrepiece of the deal — a $576 million replacement Bridgewater Bridge — represented value for money. State Growth Minister Michael Ferguson said the implementation plan for the deal — released last year — was a “significant achievement” of the first year of the deal.

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“The significance of reaching agreement between all six governments on the funding arrangements and the scope, detail and timeline of each of the projects included cannot be underestimated,’’ he said.