Tassie roads and rail tipped for Budget largesse aimed at lost seats

UPDATED: THE Hodgman Government has doubled its commitment to a new Bridgewater Bridge in the wake of the Federal Government’s Budget eve pledge.

UPDATED: THE Hodgman Government has increased to $115 million its commitment to a new Bridgewater Bridge in the wake of the Federal Government Budget eve pledge.

During the recent state election campaign, the State Government promised just $46 million over five years to the project.

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However, the Federal Goverrnment’s $461 million commitment to the $576 million project has forced the State Government to lift its contribution.

The Budget — due to be handed down tomorrow — will allocate $921 million in total to Tasmanian infrastructure, including $400 million for safety improvements on the Bass Highway and $60 million for rail improvement.

Deputy Premier Jeremy Rockliff today said the $115 million would be delivered over the forward estimates 2018-19 to 2021-2022.

During the election campaign, the Government predicted a cumulative $100 million surplus over the next four years.

The existing Bridgewater Bridge.

Mr Rockliff said construction would begin as soon as possible — although planning was at the stage of concept designs.

The old structure will remain because it is heritage listed.

Liberal Senator Richard Colbeck said the project was overdue after previous funding was diverted by the state Labor Government in the early 2000s.

“The Bridgewater Bridge bottleneck has been a problem for decades, and now thanks to a Liberal Government in Canberra, and a Liberal Government in Tasmania, it will finally be addressed,” he said.

He said it was the Coalition’s hope that it could win back the seats of Bass, Braddon and Lyons, which it lost in the 2016 election.

RACT spokeswoman Stacey Pennicott said the motoring organisation had been lobbying for the project and was excited it was finally coming to fruition.

The Tasmanian Government forwarded a business case on the bridge project to Infrastructure Australia in January.

A concept plan released for the new Bridgewater Bridge back in 2016.

EARLIER: THE  Turnbull Government will pledge $461 million to build a new Bridgewater Bridge as part of a massive package for Tasmanian roads and rail in tomorrow’s Budget.

The $921 million of new money will also include $400 million from a new program called the Roads of Strategic Importance, which will improve safety at several points on the Bass Hwy in the state’s North-West.

A second tranche of $59.8 million under the Tasmanian Freight Rail Revitalisation program will also be announced.

The spending comes as the Liberal Party hopes to build on its state election victory by reclaiming the three federal seats — Bass, Braddon and Lyons — lost by the “Three Amigos” in 2016. Internal polling released recently showed the Liberals with more than 50 per cent of the primary vote in Bass, Braddon and Lyons — the electorate containing the Bridgewater Bridge.

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“The Bridgewater Bridge is the gateway to Hobart and is a vital access point to the city,” Mr Morrison said.

“The existing bridge needs replacement to remove severe blockages and constraints on the Midland Highway leading into Hobart.

“The Turnbull Government is providing $461 million to construct a new four-lane bridge to cross the Derwent River, cutting the travel time into Hobart and reducing freight costs.”

Last month Labor leader Bill Shorten announced funding of $100 million for the bridge.

During the state election campaign, the Tasmanian Liberals promised $46 million over five years towards the $576 million bridge replacement cost.

A business case was recently submitted by the Hodgman Government. The bridge has been on Infrastructure Australia’s list of initiatives for several years but it was not expected to start until after negotiation of the Commonwealth-State infrastructure agreement in mid-2019.

Liberal senator Richard Colbeck, who faces voters at the next half-Senate election, said it would be the single biggest infrastructure investment since the dam-building days of the 1960s and 1970s.

“This massive cash injection will support 200 jobs during construction and is further evidence of the Turnbull Government’s commitment to Tasmania,” he said.

“The Bridgewater Bridge bottleneck has been a problem for decades and now, thanks to a Liberal Government in Canberra and one in Tasmania, it will finally be addressed.”

Southern Tasmanian mayors including Tony Foster, of Brighton, and Martyn Evans, the Derwent Valley, have been calling for a new bridge for decades. Picture: KIM EISZELE

The bridge was built in the 1940s resulting in height, mass and weight restrictions for 18,500 vehicles a day travelling on the Midland Hwy.

Mr Morrison said the Budget would include $24.5 billion for major transport projects and initiatives that would benefit every state and territory.

“These form part of the Government’s $75 billion transport infrastructure investment over the next decade,” he said.

“The investment in road, rail and public transport projects will reduce congestion, keep our roads safe, connect people to jobs and get our produce to market.”

The $119.6m Tasmanian Freight Rail Revitalisation Program will revamp priority sections of the state’s rail network.

This year’s announcement compares with a disappointing 2016-17 Budget where no new money was forthcoming — although there was a $96 million instalment of the 10-year Midland Highway project.

In a pre-Budget announcement on Saturday, Tasmania received $20 million for biosecurity.

The Bridgewater Bridge replacement is expected to be funded in the next Federal Budget. Picture: MATT THOMPSON