All style and no substance

TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT

THE Tasmanian Liberals released a transport strategy for Hobart which seemed to embrace public transport (full of arty concept designs) but committed not one dollar of Tasmanian government money to any public transport component ( Mercury, February 1). In the same announcement, they committed $35 million to expand the Southern Outlet by adding an additional lane. They made it clear they would not spend one dollar on new public transport options unless the Commonwealth supplies funding. There have been a series of costed road proposals in recent months released by the Liberals that are proposed to go ahead regardless of matching funds from the Commonwealth. Seems they are unwilling to make new spends on public transport while continuing to subsidise road users choking the city. It is very likely houses would have to be resumed in order to expand the Southern Outlet. How many? Already residents face considerable traffic pollution and noise. How will they be compensated for the increased volume of traffic? City Deal process at face value aware it lacked proper process but with a belief properly assessed projects could secure funding. Projects with no costing, no business case, no assessment by Infrastructure Australia, thrown up and attached to the City Deal funding process is an insult to those who gave the benefit of the doubt to the City Deal game. We can only hope that when the thought bubbles have popped the STEM project will be left standing.

Outlet lane worry

SO, an extra lane added to the Southern Outlet will be the answer, will it? How will that be achieved, compulsory acquisition of land adjoining the highway? What happens when all these lanes converge on Davey and Macquarie streets? The only answer is to divert traffic from north, south and east away from central Hobart. This can only be achieved by ring roads or tunnels. Come on guys, you need to do a lot better than this.

Underground, at last

AT last, somebody in government is beginning to talk about the only option to alleviate city congestion. Underground. Lack of finance should not inhibit vision. Hobart needs a toll tunnel from the Southern Outlet under the CBD, continuing under the Domain, to connect with the Brooker Highway and the Tasman Bridge. Traffic from the city could enter the tunnel via Burnett St (sorry about the trees). A feasibility study into widening Tasman themercury.com.au readers have a new way to have their say. It’s free to use, just register and have your say. For more details and to register, visit the website. Bridge at least an extra two lanes should be funded by the Federal Government. The announcement of an underground transit station, under Elizabeth St, is a step in the right direction. The residential gentrification of the inner city has made it politically impossible for any government to contemplate city overpasses.

Mirage

THE Liberal Government’s bold “vision” for Hobart might be more of an election mirage than an actual vision. I tried in vain to find this report in the usual places, but am still keen to read about the schmicko underground mall containing shiny young people and even shinier decor.

Keep roadworks going

IT’S a pity that any article about traffic issues only considers car drivers. As a resident of Mt Stuart, it is exciting to see less traffic in our local streets. Normally about 3000 cars drive past our house every day (at last count by council). For these vehicles to be “stuck” in North Hobart is just an indication of the poor traffic planning that is the norm in Hobart. Why should residential areas be used as faster crosscity access when they were never designed for this purpose? Keep the roadworks going in West Hobart — and maybe do some long-term traffic planning that moves vehicles away from residential areas and makes these areas safer for residents, kids walking to school and cyclists.

Job losses

I SEE a major component of Labor’s attack on the Liberals has been demolished by a good report on health. What’s up next, they already have one policy that will cost jobs. How many more job losses can we expect under Labor.

Files in sheds

NO need to worry about people breaking into government computers for information anymore. Now you just have to buy one of their filing cabinets choc-a-block full of goodies. That’s why people have trouble getting in touch with Centrelink. The staff are probably running around the neighbourhood finding out what shed they left your file in.

Talk to the knee

HEALTH Minister Michael Ferguson said elective surgery waiting list had a dramatic drop ( Mercury, January 30). Well I want to know how high was it because I been waiting on elective surgery on my knee for 4½ years. Is he talking about Tasmania or all Australia. Come on, Mr Ferguson, I am sick of all the bad news, give us a go.

Fruit salad

TASMANIA would be better off governed by a majority in its own right, rather than a made up fruit salad government.