Asia on our flight path

FLIGHTS to Asia have been touted as Hobart Airport prepares for international take-off by the end of next year.

But some are warning there is much work to do before Tasmania secures the flights, part of the $1.6 billion Hobart City Deal launched yesterday. “We are providing the capacity for international airlines to be able to take off from the end of next year and our full expectation is that they will,” Federal Cities Minister Alan Tudge said.

FLIGHTS to Asia have been touted as Hobart Airport prepares for international take off by the end of next year.

But caution has been urged, with some warning there is work to do before Tasmania secures international flights.

The flights vision is part of the $1.6 billion Hobart City Deal launched yesterday.

Federal Cities Minister Alan Tudge was in Hobart yesterday and stood with State Growth Minister Michael Ferguson and Greater Hobart’s four mayors to outline the plan.

“Most likely, I would expect [flights] into Asia but obviously they will be decisions which are made by the airlines themselves with the Hobart Airport,’’ Mr Tudge said.

“We are providing the capacity for international airlines to be able to take off from the end of next year and our full expectation is that they will.”

Mr Tudge said Hobart international flights would boost tourism and other industry.

“You can imagine the fresh produce that is produced here so well, will be able to be produced and cut one day, and potentially be on the flight and into Asia the next day,’’ he said.

Tourism Industry Council of Tasmania chief executive Luke Martin was not as optimistic about the timelines, saying they could turn out to be “false expectations”.

“Freeing up the funds to establish quarantine services at Hobart Airport is a critical step by Government, but it is way too premature to say we’ll suddenly have a flight to New Zealand, or another international destination next year,’’ he said.

A Hobart Airport spokesman said: “Hobart Airport is continuing to work with the State and Federal Governments and our airline partners to secure international services to and from Tasmania.”

Mr Tudge confirmed the commitment of federal and state governments to deliver a $576 million Bridgewater Bridge replacement.

“There’s further work to be done on that next year with Infrastructure Australia, but we want to get it under construction by 2022, it needs to be built,’’ he said. “If it can be done more affordably, then terrific, but the key thing is that it has to be built.”

Hobart Lord Mayor Anna Reynolds and her Glenorchy and Kingborough counterparts have spoken out about concerns with the bridge plan, saying design options for the bridge needed to be discussed.

Labor infrastructure spokesman Shane Broad described the deal as a “shopping list” of projects “chucked into a glossy brochure”.

“The Liberals have promised yet again that the Bridgewater Bridge will be complete by 2024 but Will Hodgman and Michael Ferguson can’t even get the design right to get construction underway,’’ he said.

Independent MP for Clark Madeleine Ogilvie said the deal needed to target unemployment, calling for a “local jobs guarantee” on projects.