The Tasmanian Greens plan to use Government Business Enterprise estimate hearings (GBEs) this week to seek answers on whether the $80 million Intermodal Transport Hub at Bridgewater, which is nearing completion, will lead to an increase in the number of container trucks using the Brooker Highway.
Greens Infrastructure spokesperson Tim Morris MP said the Infrastructure Minister David O’Byrne has confirmed that the opening of the Bridgewater transport hub would effectively mean companies in Hobart will no longer have the option of having containers delivered to, or collected from, the Hobart Railyards.
Mr Morris said he would also be seeking answers over the future of the Hobart Railyards, given that the railway line between Bridgewater and Hobart is not likely to remain in use given these circumstances.
“Bridgewater’s transport hub is a forward-looking development which will take additional freight off the Midland and Bass Highways and onto the more efficient rail network,” said Mr Morris.
“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.”
“The Minister has been unable to say if he has done any work to determine if there is still any demand for companies to have access to the Hobart railway yard to receive or send freight. This is a critical issue for the state’s infrastructure and potential investment which I intend to pursue with Tasrail during this week’s GBE hearings.”
“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.”
“Carting containers between Bridgewater and Hobart is also likely to cost big money, and the hundreds of businesses which rely on this transport link deserve answers.”
“It is in the interests of our business community that these matters are clarified as a matter of urgency, and the Greens will continue to pursue it until that happens.”
“There is a lot of very valuable land in and around the Hobart Railyards, and if this facility is going to be disused then we should be starting to think about its future use.”
“It is currently zoned for transport, and one of the proposals that has been raised for the site is to develop it as a bus transit station to allow for improved public transport services,” Mr Morris said.
Tim Morris MP Greens Infrastructure spokesperson
