MR: Building Tasmania's Transport Infrastructure of the 21st Century

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http://www.minister.infrastructure.gov.au/jb/releases/2014/February/jb008_2014.aspx

Building Tasmania's Transport Infrastructure of the 21st Century

Media Release

JB008/2014

03 February 2014

Today I am pleased to announce that the Australian Government will spend almost $650 million on transport infrastructure projects across Tasmania over the next five years through its new Infrastructure Investment Programme.

The Australian Government recognises that delivering productivity enhancing transport infrastructure throughout Tasmania is essential to the prosperity of both the state and national economies.

That is why we are committing almost $650 million towards infrastructure projects between 2014–15 and 2019–20 that will boost Tasmania's economic productivity and create jobs.

The funding includes $200 million to upgrade the Midland Highway with a further $200 million available from 2019–20 and $119.6 million to improve the Tasmanian freight rail network. Other major projects include $25.6 million to improve the Brooker Highway and $17.5 million to upgrade the Huon Highway.

Funding will also continue for road maintenance, Roads to Recovery, Black Spot projects, and regional freight routes, in addition to our new $300 million Bridges to Renewal Programme.

Despite economic and fiscal challenges we face, the Australian Government has a very significant platform of projects to get underway and we will work closely with the state government to expedite their delivery for the benefit of all Tasmanians.

This significant investment is in addition to the Australian Government's newly established $342 million Community Development Grants Programme and $180 million for the Tasmanian Economic Growth plan.

The Australian Government has committed $39 billion under its new Infrastructure Investment Programme, $35.5 billion between 2013–14 and 2018–19 and a further commitment of $3.6 billion in 2019–20.

Details of key projects in Tasmania are at Attachment A.