The Hodgman Liberal Government is investing in job-creating infrastructure that will support a growing economy and more productive freight system for businesses and consumers alike.

We have worked with the Australian Government to deliver a total of $119.6 million for the first tranche of funding for the State’s rail network over the next four years.

This investment will enable TasRail to achieve further improvements to the safety and reliability of the track, and an increased level of confidence for customers and potential customers.

This weekend TasRail will release to the open market a tender for the largest and most significant works of the Tasmanian Freight Rail Revitalisation Program.

The value of this major project is in the order of tens of millions of dollars, which includes the cost of materials, services and contract labour.

TasRail is applying the Liberal Government’s Local Benefits Test for all contracts under the revitalisation program.

This project will require the installation of 48,000 new sleepers and 30 kilometres of new rail, including re-railing of a selected number of level crossings and minor drainage works.

A majority of the funding will be spent on the upgrade of the major freight rail routes – being the Melba Line, the Western Line and the South Line.

There is also provision in the funding package for selected re-railing, re-sleepering and drainage works on the Fingal, Bell Bay and Derwent Valley Lines; and the renewal of selected bridges and culverts.

Meanwhile, Ulverstone-based VEC Civil Engineering was this week advised that it had been successful with its tender submission for the first IIP works package.

This first works package has a total project value of more than $5 million (including materials, services and contract labour) and will provide a substantial boost to the North-West economy.

Under the contract, VEC will install 10,000 new sleepers and six kilometres of new rail on priority areas of the Melba Line, the South Line and the Western Line.

TasRail expects works to commence this month.

VEC has made a commitment to TasRail that it will use local suppliers for its subcontracting and service requirements, and this is welcome news for the region’s civil contracting community.

The $119.6 million IIP funding further complements the State Government’s ongoing commitment to maintaining below-rail infrastructure and its recent co-investment in new freight terminal developments at George Town and the Port of Burnie.
Rene Hidding, Minister for Infrastructure