$2.8m nod for Kingston site

THE redevelopment of the former Kingston High School will finally receive Federal Government funding.

Kingborough mayor Steve Wass was joined by Liberal senator Eric Abetz yesterday to announce a $2.8 million grant through the Building Better Regions Fund.

The council applied for federal funding under the National Stronger Regions Fund three times previously but had been unsuccessful, with projects in northern Tasmania being preferred.

“We are certainly delighted because what this federal funding will do is bring this project forward,” Councillor Wass said.

“Our community is out there waiting for it to happen and we can now say that it is happening and I think it will be well received in the community.”

The grant is half of what is needed to get the construction of the $90 million project — called Kingston Park — off the ground.

Plans for development of the 11.4ha site, which is larger than Macquarie Point in Hobart, include a town square, cultural and sporting spaces, meeting rooms, cafe, occasional daycare facilities, car parking and 4ha of public open space and has been touted as the regional headquarters of southern Tasmania.

It is forecast to create 640 jobs, helping the municipality to make up for the 850 jobs that were lost when Vodafone moved its call centre into Hobart.

Senator Abetz said the project would help to make Kingborough a self-contained community.

“I’m just pleased as a local ratepayer to have been involved with the local council in asking the Federal Government for the money,” he said.

“These projects are funded all around Australia, we can’t fund them all.

“We do go through a rigorous process but it is nice to see the Kingborough Council achieve this which now gives us a kickstart.”

Work is expected to begin on the development next year.

The timeframe for completion is still unknown.