A MAJORITY LIBERAL GOVERNMENT WILL:
- Provide $1 million towards the Strahan Waterfront Precinct, completing an upgrade to create a safer port area and a vibrant public space for locals and tourists.
- Extend our co-funded Exploration Drilling Grants Initiative* to 2025, with an additional $1.5 million investment.
- Provide $2 million to a refreshed Geoscience Initiative. This is expected to be supplemented by up to $3 million from the Australian Government’s $125 million Exploring for the Future Program*.
- Fund the exciting Unconformity Festival*, investing $525,000 per annum for the next four years.
- Recruit two additional paramedics for the West Coast, provide an additional $560,000 for staffing at the West Coast District Hospital, and fund $400,000 to upgrade equipment for the Hospital*
- Provide $150,000 per year over four years for West Coast Heritage – formerly the Pioneer Memorial Museum at Zeehan - for its ongoing operations and heritage maintenance.
- Complete Horsetail Falls with a new investment of $600,000.
- Funding a new North-West and West Coast Jobs Hub* at Burnie, with outreach presences on the West Coast.
This adds to investments currently underway by the Liberal Government on the West Coast, including –
- The $20 million Next Iconic Walk in the Tyndall Ranges on the West Coast, with construction expected to start in 2022.
- $16 million for the iconic West Coast Wilderness Railway to continue to support the operation of the railway and attract visitors to the region.
- $25 million assistance package to the operator of the Mt Lyell mine once mining operations recommence, and have provided $9.5 million to undertake works necessary to bring forward the restart of the Mt Lyell mine.
- $300,000 for a new Parks and Wildlife Service vessel to operate from Strahan Harbour to provide an increased, reliable and safe service operating in the broader Macquarie Harbour area – due for delivery in May 2021.
- Significant West Coast road upgrades, including –
- $18.8 million for the Lyell Highway between Queenstown and Strahan, including stopping bays for slow more traffic, passing lanes and alignment upgrades; and
- $8.6 million as part of the $37.6 million funding upgrade for the Murchison Highway connecting mines, fish farms and local residents to ports and suppliers on the North-West Coast.
- Upgrades to the West Coast District Hospital under the $24.4 million Health and Ambulance facilities plan*
The Tasmanian Liberals are the strongest supporters of our regional communities.
We have worked hard to support the West Coast community since our election in 2014, and we support the community’s plans to continue as an economic powerhouse for our State, creating jobs through its unique brand of mining, heritage, wilderness and, increasingly, as a key destination for outdoor recreation and tourism.
Our support continues with further initiatives under a re-elected Liberal Majority Government.
We will:
Provide $1 million towards the Strahan Waterfront Precinct, completing construction to create a safer port area and a vibrant public space for locals and tourists
A re-elected Majority Liberal Government will provide $1 million – matched by the West Coast Council – to complete the Strahan Waterfront Precinct Plan.
The Strahan waterfront is a visitor favourite, and the completion of the Plan will create a safer port area, increased space for tourists and locals to use the busy waterfront precinct.
Extend our co-funded Exploration Drilling Grants Initiative to 2025
A re-elected Majority Liberal Government will provide $1.5 million to extend our co-funded Exploration Drilling Grants Initiative to 2025.
This successful program has been in place since 2018 and is anticipated to generate over 10kms of greenfields exploration drilling and investigation.
By co-investing with industry through this partnership we are supporting the continued investment in and ongoing development of our mining industry.
Provide $2 million to a refreshed Geoscience Initiative. This is expected to be supplemented by up to $3 million from the Australian Government’s $125 million Exploring for the Future Program.
A re-elected Majority Liberal Government will commit a further $2 million over four years to a new Geoscience Initiative.
This investment, coupled with up to $3 million expected from the Australian Government's $125 million Exploring for the Future Program, will be crucial to explore, research and identify more of Tasmania's natural mineral resources.
This research plays a vital role in locking future mining development, further investment and more jobs in regional Tasmania.
Fund the exciting Unconformity Festival for $525,000 per annum for the next four years
Unconformity is a contemporary arts festival that showcases the unique West Coast and positively impacts on its community.
With the support of a Liberal Government, Unconformity has steadily evolved from a biennial arts festival into a world-class event and major drawcard for the West Coast visitor economy.
A re-elected Majority Liberal Government will provide $525,000 per annum, for the next four years, to cement its place alongside other major events on our annual calendar.
Recruit two additional paramedics for the West Coast, provide an additional $560,000 for staffing at the West Coast District Hospital, and fund $400,000 to upgrade equipment for the Hospital
A re-elected Majority Liberal Government will recruit two new additional paramedics for the West Coast region, boosting the number of paramedics by 33 per cent from the current six paramedics.
We will work with the West Coast community on the best model and location for the placement of those paramedics.
In addition, we will continue our investment into rural and regional hospitals, with an additional $560,000 over four years for staffing at the West Coast District Hospital.
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 the West Coast.
We will also provide $400,000 over four years to upgrade equipment at the West Coast District Hospital, helping in its response to trauma patients.
Provide $150,000 per year over four years for West Coast Heritage – formerly the Pioneer Memorial Museum at Zeehan - for its ongoing operations and heritage maintenance
A re-elected Majority Liberal Government will provide $150,000 per annum over the next four years to support West Coast Heritage Limited to manage and operate its West Coast Heritage Centre, and help maintain its collection.
The Centre offers a unique insight into the history of the West Coast, giving visitors an experience and understanding of the heritage of the region.
Formerly known as the West Coast Pioneers’ Memorial Museum and established in the 1960s, the Centre on the main street of Zeehan includes over 30 exhibition spaces and has an impressive collection of 20,000 items, depicting how the West Coast has evolved.
This new funding adds to the $150,000 per annum the Liberal Majority Government has provided to the organisation since 2018, and will help secure jobs in the area.
Complete Horsetail Falls with a new investment of $600,000
Stage one of the Horsetail Falls walk was funded previously by the Liberal Government and provides visitors with spectacular views to a platform overlooking the Falls.
Stage Two of this walk will not only provide an attraction in its own right but complement the extensive work being undertaken by West Coast Council to build this area as a mountain biking destination.
A Majority Liberal Government will provide a grant of $600,000 to the West Coast Council to complete the second stage of this outstanding attraction to cement the West Coast as a destination four nature-based tourism experiences.
Work currently underway on the West Coast right now:
Upgrades to the Police House in Rosebery and two in Queenstown.
- $300,000 for direct air service trial between Hobart to Strahan, with flights resuming on 20 April 2021.
- $450,000 for the Mining Sector Innovation Initiatives which are helping keep Tasmanian mining at the cutting edge of technology and practice.
- $300,000 for additional assessment of cultural values in the Arthur-Pieman Conservation Area related to the proposal to provide access for recreational off-road vehicle use.
- $40,000 for Zeehan Primary School refurbishment, with works to be completed by June 2021.
Our record in Government:
- $300,000 restoration of Strahan’s Customs House and Bond Store.
- $435,000 for replacement of the Macquarie Heads jetty.
- $400,000 for implementation of the Sarah Island Visitor Plan.
- $1.8 million for remote aerial firefighters, greatly enhancing existing capability.
- $105,000 for upgraded walking tracks on Sarah Island.
- New morning and evening bus services between Queenstown and Strahan and a new no-booking requirement for bus travel between Zeehan and Burnie.
- West Coast to Hobart and return bus service trial.
- $375,000 towards the upgraded Strahan Visitor Centre.
- $95,000 for Mountain Heights School refurbishment.
- $75,000 Strahan Primary school upgrade.
- $73,000 Rosebery District school refurbishment.
- $120,000 towards the film production The Tailings shot in Queenstown.
- Free wifi-services for tourists at key sites in Zeehan, Strahan and Queenstown.
- Removing asbestos, replacing façade of the Zeehan Police Station.
- Refurbishments to the Queenstown Police Station.
- Replacing filtration system at the Queenstown swimming pool.
- $500,000 towards the Western Wilds Journey.
- Upgrades to the Zeehan Ambulance Station.
- $500,000 for investigation of new tracks at $2.5 million West Coast Mountain Bike Project at Mt Owen.
- $500,000 to upgrade visitor facilities along the Tarkine Drive.
- $200,000 for upgrades at Macquarie Head campgrounds.
- $2 million to upgrade Sumac Road on the Tarkine Drive.
- $3.2 million for reconstruction of sections of Henty Road in Strahan.
- $4 million for upgrades to the Murchison Highway.
- $1.5 million for the Zeehan Rivulet bridge replacement.
- $500,000 for pavement renewal on Lyell Highway.
Costings
This policy is costed at $2.2 million over four years.
*Costed under relevant portfolio policy documents.