Senate Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport Legislation Committee, , 3:06:26 to 3:18:32
The department provides updates on the Tasman Bridge upgrade, the Wynyard to Marrawah project, and the implementation of intelligent transport solutions in Tasmania.
Topics: Infrastructure, Tourism, Public safety
Speakers: Speaker 11, Lachlan Wood, Unknown Speaker, Jessica Hall, Andrew Bourne, Hon James McGrath, Interjection, Senator Matthew Canavan
I'll go to Tazzay. Some projects in first one the Tasman Bridge upgrade. There's 130 million that was allocated there. There's a story today um in the Hobart Mercury about uh conversations in relation to uh a future crossing is is any of the resource that's allocated to or that 130 is that any of that going to those conversations? I notice on the document that you tabled this morning, it's still all in planning. what's what's the status from your perspective with respect to those conversations?
the upgrade of the Tasmin Bridge. Um so that's widening the pathways and um strengthening and creating better connections at either end. Um we are aware that um Tasmanian government is starting to consider about what the long-term um options are for that
>> So that 130 is already allocated towards those upgrade projects.
That's yes that's that that scope has changed since it initially began as they did the works around the design and so they did have to adjust the design works on that um due to some engineering constraints which is why they've changed that over time but there's not a separate project um at this point in time for any future upgrade that would be a future decision of government.
So is it anticipated that all of that 130 will be required for the new scope of the existing planned works?
>> Uh they're just still finalizing design works to really lock in that number. Um and but they haven't advised differently at this point in time.
>> So what engagement have you that has have you had with them with respect to a potential additional crossing? Uh it's
been very preliminary at this stage. We haven't got into any details. We're just aware that they are starting to look at
>> Okay. So you haven't had any conversations for example whether or not it might be um another bridge or a tunnel crossing.
>> Not into that level of detail. No.
>> Okay. Um I want to go to the other corn another corner of the state. Um the Wyard to Marow project you've got. It's listed in the document you tabled this morning as a $100 million project.
>> That's correct.
Um, at the moment you've only got $12.5 million allocated for expenditure in the next four years. Um, what's the story with the rest of it? The other 47 and a half and that's and that's of our 60% of the project.
>> Uh, that's correct. So 47.5 million has already been paid on that project by the Australian government. >> What for? Uh so that is there are under stage two there are 10 priority upgrades that have been completed um including um site three at Port Road, Blackabes Road and Boat Harbor um which reached practical completion in November um the preliminary designs and RFT documentation for the six remaining sites under way which is Stenings Road, Winion Junction, BrickMakers Bay Black River, Little Pigs Beach, Backline Road and Myrtle Grove Road, Wiltshire Road, Britain's Road and Bacon Factory Road, Smithon Junction, east of Shurings Road, Christmas Hills and Christmas Hills Road and Dun's Road at Christmas Hills
>> So my specific interest is Smith to Marow. Britain's Road would be one of those I Is there anything else in the Smith to
>> Uh I might have to come back to you on that level of detail, Senator. I'll see what I can get for you and come back
>> because that's where the the natives are very interested.
>> Sure, we will come back to you on that.
So of the hundred on the project, most of it's already been done, but it's all most of that would be when you through to Smith, I would have
>> Uh in terms of that particular section, I'll just have to double check where those projects fit.
>> So can you just go through the the six remaining again, please?
>> Sure. Uh Stenings Road, Wyard Junction.
Yeah, that's
>> Brick Makaker's Bay to Black River Little Pigs Beach, Backline Road and Myrtle Grove Road at Wiltshshire Road, Britain's Road and Bacon Factory Road at Smithton Junction, uh east of Shuring Road, Christmas Hills and Christmas Hills Road and Dun's Road at Christmas
So, back line and
uh back line and Myrtle Grove Road.
>> Do you have a costing scope on Britain's Road?
that level of detail here. I'll have to
So, the rest of that is scheduled to be completed by looking at the forecast numbers.
>> Uh in terms of the profile for the project, uh yes, there's uh 1.5 in this year, five in 2627, 5 million in 2728, and then a final 1 million in 2829. >> But construction's expected to be complete in late 2026.
>> Of all of those project,
>> practical completion. Yes.
Um, have you had any conversations with respect to Jeffrey's track with this Tasmanian government?
>> Uh, not that I'm aware of. Is that a part of an existing project or?
>> No, it's um it's another project. Well, it's another road that's received some publicity again today in the Southern Papers. It's a let's say an unofficial road around the back of Mount Wellington. It connects
>> right
>> Huan to the Dwent Valley. It runs behind Mount Wellington. It's about 13ks. Um it gets a reasonable amount of an unofficial road, but it's been discussed, let's say, variously um as one that would provide some productivity improvements. >> It's not the back of the mountain. Um, with respect to product coming out of the queue into the state infrastructure network,
>> uh, it's not one that I recall being raised with me. It's possible it's part of a package of works, but it's not one that I recall having conversations with
>> that Tasmania have specifically discussed with you. Kooi 2 Wyard com um project there was some discussion and there's a couple of other projects there as well that talk about transport solutions. What is involved in those particular
Uh so in intelligent transport solutions are usually about um managing better the flows of traffic um on roads so that there's a better ability to respond to incidents and things like that.
>> So that would be some of the signage that's gone up on the new Tasman Bridge for example that talks about travel times >> through to various destinations through along the network.
things like letting people know if um uh that there's bad weather to reduce speed limits and things like that. So, you know, if there's, you know, if there's been a rockall or whatever it might be, those sorts of things.
>> So, so can you give me details of the um proposals between KUI and Somerset?
Uh I don't have the specific details of what's being planned for that stretch of road. I will have to check that and come
back. Have a conversation with the um Tasmanians and come back to you on that.
>> So Senator, we do have in relation to stage three this summer at Toulei pedestrian crossings. You might be thinking about those detailed design for the five pedestrian crossings are Um the project was approved in December and the tender is expected to be um out April 2026.
>> Okay. That's the that'll be the final >> Uh could be
>> I believe that's the final. Yes.
>> The bridge is completed. The realignment's done.
>> Yes. Stage one and two are complete in 23 and 24. And this is stage three.
I just go back to the Marow to Wyard. Is there anything else that's being proposed between Marow and Smithton other than I think Britain's swamp road?
Uh so those ones those six that I referred to previously in that part of that package they're the only remaining sites for works that are planned which is where preliminary designs and RF documentation is.
>> So are there any conversations about any further works particularly west of Smithton?
>> Uh my expectation is that this would exhaust the funding under the current one. So it would be subject could be the subject to a future um request from the Tasmanian government.
>> That's what I'm getting to. Are there any conversations with respect to that? >> Okay. Thanks. Thanks, Chair.
>> Thank you. Senator Canavan or Senator McGrath questions in this area?
>> Yes, there are. But uh Senator McGrath, did you want the call?
>> I've got questions about the regional precincts and partnerships program. Is that for later this afternoon? >> Excellent. Thank you.