ROADS TO RECOVERY
REVEALED Tassie’s $322m package
TASMANIA’S next major road projects have been revealed in a $322m package in tomorrow’s Federal Budget.
A dangerous crash black spot at Kingston will be upgraded and a new Huon Valley link road will feature in the funding, which also includes $44m towards Rokeby RdSouth Arm Rd upgrades, continued revamp of sections of the Midland Highway and major work to improve Bass Highway safety worth $80m.
More money will also be spent on the Port of Burnie to improve freight rail infrastructure. Prime Minister Scott Morrison said the projects would make Tasmanian roads safer, reduce travel times and support jobs.
FROM CONTINUING UPGRADES ON THE BASS AND MIDLAND HIGHWAYS, TO DELIVERING A BETTER PORT OF BURNIE SHIPLOADER — THESE PROJECTS WILL SUPPORT MORE THAN 1000 DIRECT AND INDIRECT JOBS ACROSS TASMANIA
A DANGEROUS crash hotspot at Kingston will be upgraded and a transit link in the Huon constructed, with the federal government announcing $322.6m for Tasmanian roads.
Overnight, Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced this week’s 2021-22 budget would include a massive multi-million-dollar overhaul of Tasmania’s road infrastructure, including key, longawaited projects.
In a joint statement with Transport Minister Michael McCormack and Urban Infrastructure Minister Paul Fletcher, the Prime Minister said millions of additional dollars would also be poured into existing projects such as the Port of Burnie shiploader upgrade.
That project, which was announced during the 2019 federal election, aims to improve the passage of minerals from the West Coast’s mines to load on to ships for export.
Mr Morrison said the projects would make Tasmanian roads safer, reduce travel times and support employment.
“From continuing upgrades on the Bass and Midland highways, to delivering a better Port of Burnie shiploader — these projects will support more than 1000 direct and indirect jobs across Tasmania,” he said.
“Our record funding commitment is creating jobs, boosting business investment, while securing Australia’s COVID recovery.”
New projects announced under the roads bonanza include $80m to upgrade the safety and freight efficiency of the Bass Highway under the already-existing Tasmanian Roads Package.
SCOTT MORRISON
Algona Road, which links Blackmans Bay to Kingston, will be given $48m worth of upgrades.
Algona Road has been the site of a number of crashes over the years, including a fatal accident last August that claimed the lives of a Huntingfield man and his twoyear-old daughter.
The project will upgrade the roundabout at the intersection of Algona Road and Channel Highway near Kingston, and will duplicate the Kingston Bypass from Algona Road to Huon Highway.
The Huon Link Road — a bypass east of Huonville connecting the Chanel Highway to the Huon Highway — will receive a $13.2m contribution.
The Midland Highway will get $37.8m for upgrades from Campbell Town to Epping Forest, another $36.4m at Oatlands between Jericho to south of York Plains, and a further $35.7m at Ross from Mona Vale Road.
Another $44m will be used for upgrades for Rokeby Road-South Arm Road.
Projects receiving additional funding include $3.5m for preconstruction works on the Midland Highway and an extra $24m — on top of the existing $40m — for the Burnie shiploader.