Hobart City Deal remains shambles

Tasmanian Labor

The Hobart City Deal, announced 958 days ago, is a shambles, bogged down in bureaucratic red tape and government inaction.

Shadow Minister for Economic Development, Dean Winter, said the City Deal was failing to deliver its promises.

“The City Deal is in tatters,” Mr Winter said.

“This was an exciting opportunity to get important public projects moving, but so far we have seen almost nothing delivered.

“We have no idea who the tenants of the Antarctic precinct are going to be or what it would look like.

“Supposed ‘congestion-busting’ projects are either incomplete, delayed or not going to happen.”

In the absence of any update from the government Mr Winter summarised progress as follows:

  • There is no clarity of what the Antarctic precinct will look like or who the tenants will be
  • Major Transport projects are stalled, including:
    • No site identified for the ‘Underground’ Bus Mall
    • No decision on transport mode for Northern Suburbs Light Rail
    • Hobart and Kingborough Councils opposed to fifth lane on the southern outlet
    • New ferry service un-integrated with Metro Tasmania services
    • New buses and bus facilities delayed at Kingborough
  • No progress on affordable housing or urban renewal targets
  • No progress in activating the northern suburbs transport corridor

“Like everything this Liberal Government does, the deal was filled with big promises and followed with no action.

“The City Deal is too important to get wrong and it is unbelievable the government has failed this badly on such a crucial project.”

Dean Winter MP

Shadow Minister for Economic Development

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