A majority liberal government will:
- Continue to support the North East region with a range of key investments that create jobs and provide economic and social value for the local communities, including:
- Provide $650,000 to the Dorset Council towards the Victoria Street redevelopment, including major underground infrastructure works.
- Provide a $2.8 million investment towards turning Ben Lomond into a year-round destination*.
- Upgrade of assets in National Parks and Reserves in the North East, including at Waterhouse, Eddystone Point and Mathinna Falls, with an investment of $465,000.
- Improve berthing and landside infrastructure to support exports through a $10 million upgrade to the Port of Bell Bay.
- Provide $5 million for improvements to the Bridport foreshore, including a new boat ramp and jetty.
- Increase the number of permanent paramedics for the North East with the recruitment of two additional paramedics*.
- Provide an extra $840,000 over four years for additional staffing at the North East Soldiers Memorial Hospital at Scottsdale, with an additional $600,000 for upgraded equipment, helping in its response to trauma patients. In addition, we will provide $200,000 to the George Town District Hospital for upgraded hospital equipment*.
- Invest $1.2 million into sporting upgrades in the region, including:
- $276,000 for the Hillwood Recreation Hub.
- $350,000 to the Lilydale Football Club.
- $190,000 to the Lilydale Bowls Club.
- $80,000 to the Bridport Football Club.
- $280,000 to the Scottsdale Football Club.
- Provide $170,000 for RSL upgrades, including:
- $50,000 to the Scottsdale RSL;
- $120,000 to the Bridport RSL Community Club
- $40,000 per annum for three years to Bowls Tasmania to ensure Tasmania has its own team in the Bowls Premier league.
- $20,000 to the North-East Community House at Scottsdale to undertake a youth needs analysis.
The Tasmanian Liberals are the strongest supporters of our regional communities.
We have worked hard to support the North East community and its plans for economic growth and job creation, to showcase its offerings as a key tourist destination.
Our support continues with further initiatives under a re-elected Majority Liberal Government.
We will:
Provide $650,000 to the Dorset Council towards the Victoria Street redevelopment, including major underground infrastructure works
North East Tasmania is renowned for its world class tourism experiences, and it’s important our regional towns reflect visitor expectations.
A re-elected Majority Liberal Government will provide funding of $650,000 to the Dorset Council towards a beautification project on Victoria Street, Scottsdale that will create a pleasant, welcoming, and sustainable town centre for all those who live, work and visit Scottsdale.
Works to be undertaken to create a better experience for those using the area will include; major underground infrastructure works, new bench seating, landscaping.
These upgrades will come as a major boost for local businesses and the local economy, giving Scottsdale a fresh new look and encouraging more people into the town.
Provide a $2.8 million investment towards turning Ben Lomond into a year-round destination*
Ben Lomond has for many years been the premier ski slope in Tasmania, however it has been unfairly pigeon-holed as a winter destination.
Less than an hour from Launceston, Ben Lomond National Park is one of the most under-utilised sites in Tasmania’s reserve system.
A re-elected Majority Liberal Government will invest $2.8 million to unlock the potential of the Ben Lomond National Park as a year-round destination, allowing our Parks and Wildlife Service to undertake planning to guide future development, including
- The ‘Ben Lomond Snow Making Feasibility and Economic Benefit Assessment’ to determine if snow conditions on the mountain can be augmented and extended.
- A strategic site plan identifying priority infrastructure in the development of the site as a year-round destination; including investment in the highest priority assets.
- A new Ben Lomond Management Plan.
This investment will follow the Government’s current funding of a replacement Ben Lomond Public Shelter which was destroyed by fire in 2018.
It is anticipated that planning works on this project will commence in 2021-22 and that the project will conclude in 2025-26.
Upgrade of assets in National Parks and Reserves in the North East, including at Waterhouse, Eddystone Point and Mathinna Falls, with an investment of $465,000
A re-elected Majority Liberal Government will continue its investments in Parks and Reserves in the north-east by providing $465,000 funding for:
- The installation of toilet facilities at South Croppies, Waterhouse, near Bridport.
- New toilet facilities at the Mathinna Falls Regional Reserve picnic ground.
- Improvements to the boat ramp at Eddystone Point.
Our national parks and reserves make a huge contribution to the Tasmanian economy, particularly in regional areas, and projects like these are exactly what our economy and tourism sector needs as we continue to recover from COVID-19.
Improve berthing and landside infrastructure to support exports through a $10 million upgrade to the Port of Bell Bay
A re-elected Majority Liberal Government will commit to delivering a $10 million upgrade to the Port of Bell Bay through Tas Ports, to provide improved berthing and landside infrastructure to support the forestry and minerals sector.
Within 100 days of being re-elected, we will also seek advice from TasPorts on potential port upgrades that will support the development of a Hydrogen Hub at Bell Bay.
Provide $5 million for improvements to the Bridport foreshore, including a new boat ramp and jetty
In 2018, the Tasmanian Liberal Government committed $250,000 to develop a community-led master plan for the Bridport foreshore, seeking recommendations in relation to future infrastructure upgrades to support the growing number of recreational fishers, boaters and beach goers.
A re-elected Majority Liberal Government will invest $5 million through Marine and Safety Tasmania (MAST) to deliver the first stage of proposed upgrades including an upgrade of the existing boat ramp to enable greater tide access, construction of a public jetty with a low landing and wave attenuating fenders to enable safe boarding of boats, and the inclusion of a wave screen attached to the jetty to attenuate wave action in the landing area.
The new jetty will be able to be extended as part of a future second stage of upgrades, to provide additional capacity for recreation and tourism vessels berthing in a wider range of tide conditions, providing a central focus for tourism and attraction in Bridport.
This funding commitment will also provide for detailed environmental and engineering studies to inform the further development of a potential future new river entrance and port expansion.
Increase the number of permanent paramedics for the North East with the recruitment of two additional paramedics*
A re-elected Majority Liberal Government will recruit two new paramedics for the North East.
This investment of $1 million over four years will assist ongoing rural and regional paramedic coverage for the wider North East region.
We will work with the local community on the best model and location for the placement of the new paramedics.
Invest in staffing and hospital equipment upgrades at the North-East Soldiers Memorial at Scottsdale, and upgraded equipment at the George Town District Hospital.
A re-elected Majority Liberal Government will continue our investment into rural and regional hospitals, with an additional $840,000 over four years for extra staffing at the North East Soldiers Memorial Hospital at Scottsdale.
We will work closely with key stakeholders to develop the best way to attract more health professionals to our regional communities, particularly those close to our world-class mountain biking tracks, such as Derby.
We will also provide an additional $600,000 to the North East Soldiers Memorial Hall at Scottsdale for upgraded equipment.
In addition, we will provide $200,000 to the George Town District Hospital for upgraded hospital equipment.
Invest in sporting upgrades in the region, with an investment of $1.2 million
With participation on the rise across several sports and recreation activities, so too does the demand on our community facilities and infrastructure.These include –
- $276,000 to the George Town Council towards improvements at the Hillwood Recreation Hub, such as; drainage, construction of accessible change rooms, showers, toilets and storage.
- $350,000 to the Lilydale Football Club for a major redevelopment of clubrooms and facilities.
- $190,000 to the Lilydale Bowls Club to install an all-weather synthetic green to allow for year-round member and community use.
- $80,000 to the Bridport Football Club towards the construction of a raised covered viewing area at the clubrooms.
- $280,000 to the Scottsdale Football Club towards a renovation of the grandstand facility to include umpire and player change rooms and installation of lighting on the second oval.
These sports club will also be able to take advantage of our State-wide $10 million Solar Power Sports Club no-interest loan fund to install solar systems to save money on their energy bills.
Our investment in upgrading these facilities will create significant opportunities to develop our local talent, while creating local jobs and providing significant economic benefits to Tasmania.
Provide $170,000 for RSL upgrades, including Scottsdale and Bridport
A re-elected Majority Liberal Government will provide $50,000 to the Scottsdale RSL towards repairs and upgrade of the façade and entrance.
We will also provide $120,000 to meet 50 per cent of the civil works needed at the Bridport RSL Community Club, to support future development of the facility, including relocating the sewer main and realigning the western access road.
$40,000 per annum for three years to Bowls Tasmania to ensure Tasmania has its own team in the Bowls Premier league.
Tasmania continues to punch above our weight on the national sporting stage.
The Bowls Premier League (BPL), formerly the Australian Premier League (APL), is a competition, which is staged biannually, created and run by Bowls Australia, but Tasmania is currently the only State that is not represented at this event.
The event itself is a modified version of traditional bowls, with lightning-fast matches and entertaining fanfare delivered by the eight franchises from around Australia making for a ‘20/20’ type format of the sport.
A re-elected Majority Liberal Government will invest $40,000 per annum for three years towards the establishment of a Tasmanian team in the Bowls Premier League to ensure we are truly represented on the national stage.
$20,000 to the North-East Community House at Scottsdale to undertake a youth needs analysis
This funding will assist the Community House and other service providers to identify any service gaps in social, recreational, transport and employment support for local young people in the region.
These commitments are in addition to those already announced that will benefit the North-East, including:
- An investment of an additional $98.5 million into TasTAFE over the next four years, with 100 extra teachers, and critical upgrades, including new student accommodation, with $16 million to increase access to training for rural and regional students.
- Delivering a Jobs Hub at St Helens under our Local Jobs for Local People policy with outreach to include the greater East Coast and North-East, and an expanded Northern Employment and Business Hub at Bell Bay, helped by a $2 million Job Ready Fund for essential tools for job seekers, expanding Area Connect Service where no easy transport options exist, and a $400,000 Worker Connect Portal linking business and job seekers.
- Fund youth connectors for existing hubs at Sorell, Glenorchy and George Town to focus on young Tasmanians.
- $8 million for a new Events Support and Attraction Fund to secure existing events and festivals, and attract new, exciting events for Tasmania.
- School classroom renewal blitz will see upgrades at George Town Primary School, Port Dalrymple School, Ringarooma Primary School and Lilydale District School, and anti-bullying private toilet cubicles at Lilydale District School, Port Dalrymple School, Scottsdale High School and Winnaleah District High School.
- $315 million into social and affordable housing initiatives across the State, bringing the total investment to over $615 million over seven years, including the current year – a record investment by any government in Tasmania, and delivering 3500 new social and affordable homes.
- $2 million grant fund for new and upgraded facilities and amenities for recreational sea fishing, and $3 million to support the fisheries sector.
- A 50% increase in annual funding to arts organisations and a $200,000 small grants program for the ‘gig’ economy.
- Doubling the value of our successful Ticket to Play Voucher Program, a $10 million investment in sporting facilities, and $10 million for no-interest solar grants sports club loans.
- A boost in the First Home Owners Grant from $20,000 to $30,000 from 31 March 2021.
- Investment of a further $18 million to ensure our communities are bushfire safe and support our career firefighters and 5,600 volunteers in our fire brigades and State Emergency Service Units around the State.
- Extending our School Lunch pilot to 30 schools, with a $1.4 million investment, and delivering over $3 million in emergency food relief and food security funding to help the most vulnerable.
- Protecting the 5700 jobs currently employed in and supported by the forestry sector and creating more than 300 new jobs with a special $10 million fund over five years to support on-island processing and value-adding.
- Accelerate our agriculture sector with a further investment of almost $50 million to propel the sector towards our bold target of an annual farmgate value of $10 billion by 2050, supporting rural and regional communities and creating even more jobs.
- Delivering a reduction in land tax of up to $613 per annum to nearly 70,000 land tax payers, including thousands of shack owners. This will also mean an extra, 4100 Tasmanians will not pay land tax in the year ahead.
- Building a “High Vis” Army with a 25% increase in jobs by working with the Civil Contractors Federation and Master Builders Tasmania to attract more workers to the industry.
- Delivering a $5 billion infrastructure program over the next four years, which is expected to support around 25,000 jobs. Of this, $2.4 billion will be invested in roads and bridge upgrades.
- Slashing elective surgery waiting lists and deliver an additional 22,300 elective surgeries and endoscopies State-wide, by investing an additional $120 million for a total investment of $156.4 million to deliver a record program of elective surgery.
- Provide an additional 20,000 dental appointments State-wide, across emergency dental, general dental care and denture clinics.
- Delivering a MOU with the Royal Flying Doctor Service to provide long-term health services for regional Tasmania.
- Strengthening palliative and community health care with an additional $52.0 million for in-home and local community-delivered services.
- $580 million major investment in the LGH next stage redevelopment, while delivering a $120 million co-located private hospital adjacent to the LGH.
- $6 million to back our export businesses and trade.
- A new Tamar River Bridge, costing $400 million, to be commenced in 2023, with construction to begin in early 2026, and completion by late 2028.
- New funding for stronger communities, including food security, men’s sheds, carers, volunteering, young people, people with disability, the multicultural community, and LGBTIQ+ community.
Current work underway right now:
- $50 million in State and Federal funding to deliver upgrades to the Sideling route between St Patrick’s Bridge and Scottsdale – planning and scoping is currently underway with construction to commence in 2021-22.
- $3 million for a new Scottsdale swimming pool.
- $35,160 to the George Town Council towards the installation of fixed indoor basketball infrastructure.
- $44,000 to the Bridport Football Club for ground drainage works.
- $50,000 to the Liydale District Pony Club for an upgrade of its eventing facility.
- $30,000 to the North Eastern Pacing Club in Scottsdale towards an upgrade of safety fencing and construction of a steward’s vision and broadcast tower.
- Security upgrades and capital improvement program funding provided to Dorset, and Fingal Neighbourhood Houses.
- Design and development of the 12,000ML Tamar Irrigation Scheme as a part of $185 million partnership with Australian Government.
- $150,000 to the Rural Relief Fund to assist those in hardship with direct household and farm business expenses, and expanded to include assistance with freight costs for fodder and water, utilities bills and vehicle registrations.
- $80,000 for Rural Alive and Well to extend outreach services to drought affected communities.
- $150,000 for the Tasmanian Institute of Agriculture to assist drought affected farmers with in-drought grazing, pasture and livestock management strategies, planning and farm productivity.
- $350,000 in targeted drought weed management support to provide funding to eligible Councils to help farmers tackle weeds.
- DPIPWE workshops and practical support with on-farm and catchment-wide water management strategies.
Our record in Government:
- Work with the Defence Science and Technology Organisation facility at Scottsdale to explore opportunities from the new Microwave Assisted Thermal Sterilisation technology.
- $500,000 for police housing upgrades in Scottsdale and Bridport.
- $225,000 for the George Town Sports Complex (Blue Gum Park) multi-use facility.
- Funding of $28,450 towards the upgrade to Jetsonville Hall.
- $44,970 toward solar panel installation at the Scottsdale RSL Ex Services Memorial Club Inc.
- $2 million upgrade to Main Street, Bridport.
- $1.9 million towards the Bridport Western Access Road.
- The 8,600 ML Scottsdale Irrigation Scheme has been designed, built and delivering reliable water to farmers on the North East since 2020.
- The 4,685ML North Esk Irrigation Scheme has been designed, built and delivering reliable water to farmers on the North East since 2019.
- The 5,700ML Upper Ringarooma Irrigation Scheme has been designed, built and delivering reliable water to farmers on the North East since 2015.
- $250,000 Master Plan for the Bridport foreshore.
- AgriGrowth Loan Scheme, including Young farmer support package.
- $4.18 million to work with farmers, processors and agribusiness on practical industry development strategies to improve productivity and profitability throughout the supply chain in the red meat, dairy, wine, fruit and vegetable, honey, hemp and organics sectors.
- $595,000 for Rural Financial Counselling Services and Farm Business Mentoring.
- $860,000 over 4 years for an additional two AgriGrowth Liaison Officers based in the North, combined with a new Primary Producers Hotline, to provide easier access to Department of services.
- $2.4 million to support the move of 100 position in DPIPWE to Launceston and Devonport.
- $5 million upgrade to Prossers Road, Numamara.
- $9 million in improvements to Waterhouse Road from Tomahawk to Gladstone.
- $48,900 for an electric vehicle fast charger at the Scottsdale Art Gallery Café.
- $511,000 for construction of a new commercial teaching kitchen as part of the Scottsdale Trade Training Centre at Scottsdale High.
Costings:
The cost of this policy is $19.3 million over four years, including an including a $10 million investment from TasPorts.
*Costed against other relevant portfolio policies.