• Labor to end deadlocks at Launceston, Mac Point and Mona Stage 2
• Major, game-changing projects are not even on Liberals’ radar
• TasWater to be left to focus on its core business
Labor Leader Bryan Green has today laid out a landmark infrastructure policy that will underpin economic growth across Tasmania for decades to come.
Mr Green used his State of the State speech to Parliament today to announce Labor will take decisive action to tackle three massive water and sewerage projects that are outside TasWater’s current works plan and aren’t even on the Government’s radar.
• Labor will advance the replacement of Launceston’s deplorable sewerage and storm water system.
• Labor will relocate the sewerage works on Macquarie Point to pave the way for up to $1 billion in private investment.
• Labor will fix the Cameron Bay treatment plant, which stands in the way of Mona’s transformative $300 million stage 2 development.
“Labor wants to get crucial water and sewerage infrastructure built as soon as possible, to create Tasmanian jobs and give a boost to Tasmanian business,” Mr Green said.
“We do not believe Tasmanians should have to wait for 30 years for the Macquarie Point vision to be delivered.
“Our solution for funding the relocation of the plant at Macquarie Point begins on our first day of Government and will deliver more than a billion dollars of investment before 2025.
“Launceston will also feel the benefits of the single largest infrastructure project in over a hundred years. The separation of the city’s combined water and sewerage system is simply too important to ignore.
“There is little doubt that MONA has been a pivotal driver of growth in our tourism sector.
“Labor will allow shared equity to facilitate the development of the Cameron Bay scheme to give David Walsh the green light on his $300 million MONA stage 2.
“Under the Liberals these projects don’t even have a start date.
“Labor will tender these projects for equity investment from Australian industry super funds to expedite their completion.
“Labor’s progressive approach will take advantage of historically low interest rates and an extremely competitive superannuation market that is looking for low risk, long term infrastructure opportunities.
“As an important part of these arrangements, tenderers would need to maximise their use of local materials, Tasmanian workers and apprentices.
“Rates of return to superannuation investors would be low in order to protect households from bill increases.
“TasWater would remain in local government hands and dividends would continue to be paid, providing acceptable project timeframes and performance standards are met.
“Rather than picking a fight with councils that will delay progress for at least another year – Labor would get on with fixing the problem.
“Labor’s bold policy will empower TasWater to focus on its core business – ensuring all Tasmanians have access to clean drinking water and reliable sewage systems.
“We expect TasWater to maintain a high quality and skilled workforce, especially in regional areas to operate and maintain their assets.
“TasWater should immediately halt its plans to cut 94 jobs from its works depots around the state so that we do not lose the skilled workforce we need to deliver our ambitious infrastructure agenda.
“Labor will continue to lobby for Commonwealth funding to help shorten timeframes for fixing water and sewerage challenges.”
Bryan Green MP Labor Leader