HOBART RAIL LINK TO CLOSE

The Tasmanian Greens today welcomed progress made in developing Bridgewater’s $80m transport hub, which could take more freight off the Midland and Bass highways and onto more efficient and low-carbon rail network, and won a commitment from the Minister for Infrastructure, David O’Byrne MP, that the rail corridor from Bridgewater to Hobart will remain open.

Greens Infrastructure spokesperson Tim Morris MP told Parliament that, with the Intermodal Transport Hub at Bridgewater nearing completion, there was more that could be done to give local businesses a critical advantage.

“Bridgewater’s transport hub is a forward-looking development which could take freight off roads and onto the more efficient rail network. I believe it will benefit some of the state’s businesses by providing a more joined-up and efficient commercial transport regime. But some serious questions remain,” said Mr Morris.

“It is critical our businesses leverage the maximum competitive advantages from this development, which isn’t certain at the moment.”

“It was slightly comforting to get a commitment from the Minister that the rail corridor from Bridgewater to Hobart will remain open.”

“But in his determination to maximise the use of the new Bridgewater Intermodal Hub, Mr O’Byrne has effectively announced today that companies in Hobart will no longer have the option of having containers delivered to or collected from the Hobart Railyards because the railway line to Bridgewater will be closed.”

“The Minister was unable to say if he had done any work to determine if there was still any demand for companies to have access to the Hobart railway yard to receive or send freight.”

“It is in the interests of our business community that this question urgently receives an answer, and the Greens will continue to pursue it until that happens.”

“While there will be significant advantages for Tasrail in only running trains from the Brighton Hub, it is somewhat counter-productive if this comes at the cost of an equally significant increase of road traffic between Hobart and Bridgewater.”

“Our business community would benefit from an investigation to determine if there is a demand and opportunity to continue to carry heavy containerised freight from Hobart, particularly if the Risdon line was to be re-opened to enable Zinc to be loaded directly onto rail at the refinery.”

“But we must ensure this development and freight transition happens as efficiently as possible so that advantages for local business and our low-carbon future are truly maximised.”

“One potential improvement I believe merits consideration would be to reopen the Risdon line and for zinc to be loaded directly onto trains from the zinc works.”

“The Minister also needs to assess whether it would be more efficient to continue to put freight from south Hobart on trains at Hobart and even the potential for passenger rail services in Tasmania’s south at some time in the future.”

“I welcome Mr O’Byrne’s guarantee that this corridor would remain open, however, as for my other questions, the Greens will continue to pursue them until we get the answers or are persuaded that this development really does benefit local businesses, especially by advocating the advantages of using our rail network,” said Mr Morris.
Tim Morris MP Greens Infrastructure spokesperson