The release of a study on Traffic movement by the Department of Infrastructure, Energy and Resources (DIER) in Hobart has exposed the proposal for a tunnel from Alderman Damon Thomas as expensive and with limited impact.
The report found that the cost would be most likely a billion dollars and would only remove 14-15% of traffic.
“What is most concerning about this proposal from Alderman Thomas is that a would be Mayor is advertising himself as keeping a lid on rates increase whilst proposing exorbitant next to useless projects” Alderman Cocker said.
“We have someone who wants to be Mayor proposing to spend a billion dollars in conflict with the Hobart City Council’s policies and plans which he himself has voted for. As the DIER report points out the tunnel is not consistent with the Gehl plan”. Nor is it consistent with the council’s Sustainable Transport policy”, Alderman Cocker said.
The report also points out the potential threat to heritage buildings in Hobart from the building of such a tunnel.
“Alderman Thomas needs to be asked whether he still supports the tunnel proposal given it’s very limited impact and the massive rates rise that would be required to fund it”.
