FLYING START

International flights by next year

INTERNATIONAL flights to and from Hobart are planned to begin next year, according to the implementation plan for the City Deal. The plan — to be unveiled today by Cities Minister Alan Tudge, pictured — also commits both levels of government to the construction of a new Bridgewater Bridge from 2024. It also is expected to set next year as the deadline for a business plan to be developed for the Antarctic and Science Precinct at Macquarie Point — and confirms the wastewater treatment plant on the site will be decommissioned within four years. But the plan will not contain any detail of what the Northern Suburbs public transport system might be.

THE State and Federal Governments say they will replace Bridgewater Bridge by 2024 under the $1.6 billion, 10year Hobart City Deal.

An implementation plan setting out project timelines for the first three years of the deal will be released today.

The proposed $576 million bridge — which will replace the current 70-year-old structure — is the centrepiece of the funding package.

The new bridge plan has recently attracted criticism from three Greater Hobart mayors, who are signatories to the deal, but both the Hodgman and Morrison Governments are pressing on with their plans.

“The Hodgman Liberal Government is undertaking planning and design work to continue to refine this project, with a view to agreeing to a solution in 2020 and Tasmanians driving on it by 2024,” State Growth Minister Michael Ferguson said.

The City Deal was originally announced as a $1.43 billion package, but updates to project cost estimations and the inclusion of the $130 million funding for the Tasman Highway between Hobart to Sorell announced in this year’s federal budget has increased the total.

Among other initiatives, the plan will outline a vision for international flights from Hobart Airport to commence by the end of next year.

Border services, including an Australian Federal Police presence at the airport, are expected to be operational at the site earlier in 2020.

The plan is expected to set out timelines for the development of an Antarctic and Science Precinct at Macquarie Point.

It is understood a business case for the project is planned to be completed by next year, while the decommissioning of a wastewater treatment plant at the site will be done by 2023.

It is believed the plan does not confirm whether the Australian Antarctic Division will continue to have a presence in Kingston, but instead says “the existing public sector economic and employment footprint in Kingborough will be maintained”.

Housing is also high on the agenda, with a target to deliver an affordable housing strategy by mid-2023.

It is understood the plan outlines a target to deliver at least 100 new social housing dwellings in the Greater Hobart region by 2021.

Under the deal, there are plans to redevelop a central Government-owned site to provide residential accommodation, with a focus on affordable housing. It is believed construction would commence in 2021.

Mr Ferguson said the release of the implementation plan was a key milestone in moving forward on the City Deal.

“We have already completed a lot of the groundwork on a number of City Deal projects and this plan is a blueprint on how we will continue to build on Hobart’s position as a vibrant, liveable and investment-ready city,’’ he said.

Hobart Lord Mayor Anna Reynolds said Greater Hobart mayors were looking forward to working with State and Federal Governments to progress affordable housing and public transport priorities.

“We also understand that the City Deal is a living document and we will need to keep refining important projects and work together to find additional funding,’’ she said.