Regardless of the outcome of next Saturday’s federal election, residents in the seat of Bass will be the big winners.
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It’s one of the upshots of living in a marginal seat come election time.
The two major parties will move heaven and earth to snack victory from their opposition – and this election has proven to be no different from any other when the seat has been so tight. A promise here or there could swing the seat in one party’s favour. At least, that’s what Labor and the Liberals are hoping.
If, according to the most recent Newspoll, Andrew Nikolic holds his seat – and his Liberal team retains government – Launceston’s CBD will be revitalised courtesy of a $7.5 million funding boost to the City Heart project. In fact, the entire city will undergo a renaissance coupled with a guarantee to help pay for the relocation of the university to Inveresk.
There will be money for new CCTV cameras in the CBD, more raking of the Tamar yacht basin – even George Town will benefit from $6 million on extra road funding.
If, on the other hand, Labor is victorious on election night and Ross Hart climbs to power in Bass, we will still benefit to the tune of $150 million for the uni relocation.
There is also Wednesday’s pledge of $75 million to start construction of a new, state-of-the-art sewerage treatment plant at Ti-Tree Bend. That may not resonate completely with the electorate, but improving the city’s effluent treatment is a critically important issue and will help improve the health of the Tamar River.
But these pledges from both parties bring with them questions. For example, Labor’s funding for the treatment plant will fund only around 30 per cent of an expected construction bill of $280 million for the facility. Who will make up the shortfall, particularly if Labor then fails to hold on to power at the subsequent federal election?
Alternatively, will the George Town Council be able to afford future maintenance bills on $6 million worth of new road infrastructure in their municipality? It’s okay to build roads, but councils have to pay for their upkeep.
It’s like funding a new ward in a hospital or opening a new palliative care facility – the ongoing costs of running these types of facilities will very quickly outstrip the cost of building them in the first place. It’s certainly a case of voter beware when considering the pros and cons of any election promise.
