State and federal governments keeping quiet on Hobart City Deal

The state and federal governments are keeping quiet on the contents of the Hobart City Deal.

Cities Minister Alan Tudge, right, and Treasurer Peter Gutwein. Picture: MATHEW FARRELL

THE state and federal governments are keeping quiet on the contents of the Hobart City Deal but have promised an announcement soon.

Cities Minister Alan Tudge is expected to visit Tasmania early next month to announce details of the long-awaited deal potentially worth hundreds of millions of dollars to the state’s capital.

The contents of the agreement have not yet been made public, but key elements floated so far include $461 million for the Bridgewater Bridge, the $400 million University of Tasmania STEM centre, a light rail system and modern public transport as well as the redevelopment of Macquarie Point, including an Antarctic precinct.

UTAS on Tuesday revealed it may build its STEM centre in Sandy Bay instead of Hobart’s CBD if funding was not included in the City Deal.

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Questions on whether federal funding would flow to the project were directed from Mr Tudge’s office to the Tasmanian government.

State Growth Minister Peter Gutwein said: “The State Government expects that the Hobart City Deal will be finalised shortly.

“Details will be available soon and we anticipate it will include a range of commitments that will benefit the Greater Hobart area.”

An artist’s impression of the UTAS STEM centre for the Hobart CBD.

The Hobart City Deal was meant to be completed by the end of 2018 and pressure is mounting on the Federal Government to show its hand.

Hobart’s four main urban councils — Hobart, Kingborough, Glenorchy and Clarence — have each approved the draft deal in closed sessions.

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Glenorchy City Council mayor Kristie Johnston last week said her municipality’s future hinged on the deal, particularly on funding for a light rail service that she said would remove barriers Glenorchy students faced in trying to access higher education.

Federal Labor has promised to honour any deal signed before the upcoming federal election.

The Hobart City Deal would be the fifth under the Federal Government’s Smart Cities plan, which includes a $100 million deal with Townsville, a $300 million deal with Launceston, another in western Sydney and one in Darwin.