Media Statement - 2nd November 2007
A Rudd Labor government will invest more than a hundred and forty million dollars in major road and rail projects to improve freight transport for the forestry, mining, manufacturing and agri-food industries that are the lifeblood of Northern Tasmania.
The investment will also be good for local communities and the tourism industry, separating heavy freight vehicles from light vehicle traffic and improving road safety and amenity.
Shadow Minister for Transport, Roads and Tourism, Martin Ferguson, said the $143 million package was about Labor’s core business – jobs.
“Labor’s $143 million investment in the north will build infrastructure to support industry, economic development and wealth creation for Tasmania – meaning jobs for the future.
“The key to Labor’s plan is improving regional freight links with Northern Tasmanian ports.
“It’s also about improving quality of life and safety by shifting heavy trucks, especially log trucks, out of local streets and towns.
“That’s a win for the community and the economy.
“The Tasmanian Labor government has worked hard to increase the competitiveness of the Tasmanian economy and create more jobs and wealth for hard-working Tasmanian families.
“Now a Federal Labor government will end a decade of Howard-Costello neglect of Tasmanian transport infrastructure and get Tasmania moving again.”
Federal Labor’s investment[1] in Northern Tasmania’s road and rail network includes:
- $4.5 million towards a $5.6 million upgrade of the Midland Highway
- $34 million towards a $42.5 million investment in North East Freight Roads to cater for higher mass limits (HML) – includes Tebrakunna Bridge, Branxholm to Tebrakunna Road, Camden Road, the Tasman Highway and Prossers Forest Road, and Bridport Main Road between Bell Bay and Scottsdale
- $5.2 million towards a $6.5 million improvement of the Bell Bay Intermodal
- $31.6 million for Main North-South Line rail capacity improvements
- $30 million to upgrade the Wiltshire Rail Line
- $11.7 million to upgrade West Coast Rail spurs to Hellyer Mine and from Melba Flats to Zeehan
- Ongoing funding for the Tasmanian Freight Equalisation Scheme and the Tasmanian Wheat Freight Scheme
- $2.8 million over the forward estimates to extend the Tasmanian Freight Equalisation Scheme to cover shipping movements between mainland Tasmania and King and Flinders Islands
- $15.7 million over the forward estimates to increase the Bass Strait Passenger Vehicle Equalisation Scheme (previously announced 9 September 2007)
Federal Labor will also make a significant investment in local transport projects through the Strategic Regional Program:
- $2 million towards a $4 million upgrade of Formby Road at Devonport
- $1 million towards a $4 million upgrade of Port Sorell Road
- $3.1 million towards a $6.2 million upgrade of the Illawarra Link Road
- $500,000 for the Oakleigh Park pedestrian overpass in Burnie (previously announced 6 September 2007)
- $350,000 for traffic lights or a roundabout at the Westbury Road/Mt. Leslie Road intersection in Launceston (previously announced 6 September 2007)
The projects, worth a total of nearly $162 million, will be fully funded and delivered in partnership with the Tasmanian Labor government and local councils from now through to 2014.
And federal road maintenance funding for Tasmania will receive a boost with a $31 million commitment over the AusLink II period, as announced yesterday.
The upgrade of the Midland Highway will include improvements at Constitution Hill and an audible tactile centreline from Launceston to Granton, delivering better road safety on this important north-south link.
Labor’s investment in North East Freight Roads will provide a dedicated freight link for HML vehicles from regional centres in north-east Tasmania through to Bell Bay.
The projects include:
- The reconstruction of Tebrakunna Bridge and a HML route from Branxholm through Pioneer to Tebrakunna Road which will get East Coast log trucks off the Tasman Highway before the Weldbrough Pass and onto a dedicated freight route
- Construction of a Tasman/Prosser B-double freight route along Camden Road, the Tasman Highway and Prossers Forest Road, and an upgrade of the log route bypass of Launceston to link with the Blessington catchment and get log trucks out of the city centre
- Improving alignment, widening lanes and shoulders, and strengthening pavement on the Bridport Main Road between Scottsdale and Bell Bay to safely and efficiently cater for HML vehicles, significantly improving access for the forestry and forest products industry
Port rail and roads at the Bell Bay Intermodal will be improved to handle massive 200 per cent growth in freight handling expected over the next 15 years.
The Main North-South Rail Line will be upgraded to remove tight curves and allow for increased speeds, longer trains and heavier loads, significantly improving productivity and the ability for rail to compete with road for freight.
The Wiltshire Rail Line to Burnie Port will be upgraded to get logs from the north-west to the pulp mill and reduce trucks on the Bass Highway and other northern roads.
Two West Coast Rail spurs to Hellyer Mine and from Melba Flats to Zeehan will be upgraded, shifting 520,000 tonnes per year of mining products from road to rail and reducing truck movements by more than 140 a day.
In recognition of Bass Strait’s important role as a sea highway connecting Tasmania with the rest of the nation, Federal Labor will maintain the Tasmanian Wheat Freight Scheme, extend the Tasmanian Freight Equalisation Scheme to include King and Flinders Islands, and increase the Bass Strait Passenger Vehicle Equalisation Scheme as promised on 9th September 2007.
A commitment of almost $7 million will be made to local transport projects across the north, improving road safety, amenity and access for people going about their daily business – getting kids to school, accessing medical facilities and community services, and commuting to and from work. (Project details in separate releases.)
“Federal Labor’s $143 million commitment to Northern Tasmania is good for jobs, good for business and good for local communities.
“Federal Labor’s Senators, members and candidates have been right behind this proposal to separate freight from people movement and I look forward to working with them to deliver this important transport infrastructure for Tasmania after more than a decade of neglect by the Howard-Costello government.
“This initiative recognises the importance of Northern Tasmania’s vibrant forestry, mining, agri-food, manufacturing and tourism industries and the need for modern efficient, land, sea and air transport networks to connect them with global markets,” Mr Ferguson said.
Together with yesterday’s $303 million commitment to Southern Tasmania’s roads, rail and ports, today’s announcement takes Federal Labor’s total AusLink II commitment to Tasmania to almost half a billion dollars - $446 million.[2]
In partnership with the Tasmanian government, this funding will deliver transport infrastructure projects worth $544 million, an enormous boost for the State’s productivity.