PM to commit $30m to Cradle cable

A $30 MILLION Federal Government contribution to a Cradle Mountain cableway will be announced by Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull when he visits Tasmania today.

The announcement coincides with campaigning in the Braddon by-election and follows a $4.8 million federal commitment yesterday to the Cradle Coast Coastal Pathway.

The Turnbull Government contribution to the cableway will be combined with a $30 million election commitment from the Hodgman Government to take investment in the Cradle Mountain Master Plan to $86 million.

Mr Turnbull said the cableway would cement the Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park as a national natural treasure in the same category as the Great Barrier Reef and Uluru. He said it was a “significant and game-changing investment in Tasmania’s future”.

A $30 million Federal Government contribution to a Cradle Mountain cableway will be announced by Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull when he visits Tasmania today.

The announcement coincides with campaigning in the Braddon by-election and follows a federal $4.8 million commitment to the Cradle Coast Coastal Pathway.

Mr Turnbull said the commitment was the result of strong advocacy from independent Tasmanian Senator Steve Martin.

Senator Martin negotiated promises worth $47.5 million in exchange for his support for the Turnbull Government’s $60 billion corporate tax cuts, which are yet to pass the Senate. Most of the commitments were contingent on the tax cuts passing the Senate.

“He has lobbied passionately for additional tourism infrastructure in the region,” Mr Turnbull said.

Senator Martin said the funding promise was a proud moment for him during my rela- tively short time in the Senate.

“Tasmania’s vision of attracting 1.5 million visitors to the state annually by 2020 has been given a great boost with this federal funding package,” he said. “The project will also

deliver major benefits to construction, local business, health and recreation.”

It is understood a further commitment of $10 million plus is in the pipeline.

The Turnbull Government contribution will be combined with a $30 million election commitment from the State Government and take to $86 million the investment in the Cradle Mountain Master Plan.

The cable way would cement the Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park as a national natural treasure in the same category as the Great Barrier reef and Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park.

“This is a significant and game-changing investment in Tasmania’s future,” Mr Turnbull said.

“This investment will help unlock new construction and tourism jobs for Tasmania.

“Cradle Mountain is one of the world’s most spectacular and special places.”

Mr Turnbull said the cableway would give more Australian and international visitors an opportunity to experience its beauty in an environmentally sustainable way.

“The cableway will ensure a world-class visitor experience at Cradle Mountain,” he said.

“It will provide hundreds of thousands of visitors with allyear, all-weather transport between the Gateway Precinct and Dove Lake.

Mr Turnbull said the project would help to protect the area for generations and discounted tickets would be offered for the benefit of local residents.

He said the latest commitment was on top of $921 million invested in Tasmanian infrastructure in the Budget including $100 million over four years on the Bass Highway in the North-West.

The commitments come amid a broader push by the Liberals to regain three lower house seats at the federal election next year.

Liberal candidate for Braddon Brett Whitely said the investment would do for the North-West what Mona had done for the South.