This week's state budget was big on infrastructure.
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It's the major plank of the Gutwein Government's recovery plans for Tasmania.
It includes plans to spend $1 billion in the next year, and $5 billion over the forward estimates.
That sounds great on paper.
The key is to actually deliver and get the projects happening, which has been a problem for this government since the days Will Hodgman took over the Treasury benches in 2014.
Over a number of years, plans and promises are rolled over, and sometimes even reannounced in consecutive years.
Delivery of the big spend is the major priority for Premier Gutwein and his ministers, and all those who sit under them.
The Premier is adamant they can deliver.
What you need to know about the state budget:
- Your quick guide to the Tasmanian budget
- Health spending is up, but will it be enough?
- Video: Premier Peter Gutwein on what the budget means for the North
- State government vehicle fleet to go fully electric by 2030
- Ballooning demand on prisons results in budget funding boost
- What the budget means for affordable housing in Tasmania
It has never been more important for the state to see actual activity on the ground.
Every dollar put into improving, renewing and building new infrastructure goes into the local economies. It's the best way of getting government dollars out into the regions - rather than just circulating around the public service centres like the capital.
The economic stimulation of government spending on infrastructure also has benefits for those not directly on the receiving end from the spend, benefits which can last decades.
A new school, major road improvements and investment in a myriad of other things will help people well after the initial spend.
In the current climate delivering on those projects has never been more important to particularly regional economies.
Those making the decisions on the spending can't fall into the trap of paying a premium just for the sake of getting the projects off the ground. They must always be seeking to get value for money.
But our state desperately needs to get moving and get projects on the go, particularly for the day some of the other boosts put in place federally start to tail out.
We're on the cusp of another summer, prime time for many big building projects. If we miss another summer season we'll be a long way off on delivering many of these.
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