Northern Tasmanians will wake up tomorrow and their world will largely be the same.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Despite the state budget being handed down today, most of what it revealed was expected and, in many cases, well-known.
Having had a state election just months prior, the budget had a strong focus on what various ministers promised when trying to get votes.
The remainder of the budget either tried to hide, or made prominent, projects of value to the people of Launceston and surrounds.
Launceston General Hospital
The cost of completing the LGH redevelopment, which was a 2018 state election commitment, remains at $87.3 million. However, the project appears to have stalled.
Less than half that was budgeted for health infrastructure in 2020-21 was actually spent.
While the 2020-21 state budget outlined $12 million in forward estimates for 2021-22 - this figure has now more than doubled to $24.5 million. There's then a further $42 million in forward estimates, over three years.
Forward program works include refurbishment of ward 3D, a new women's and children's outpatient clinic, due to be completed in 2021-22, an upgrade to the acute medical unit, and the refurbishment of 39 Frankland Street to a new administration and training hub.
There is no money allocated for Stage 2 of the LGH redevelopment, with $500 million set aside for 2025-26, and 2031-32.
There is $12 million allocated for a mental health precinct at the LGH. However, there's just $500,000 for 2021-22, $1.5 million in 2022-23, then $10 million over two years in forward estimates.
There was no mention of Calvary Healthcare's unsolicited $120 million bid for a private co-located private adjacent to the LGH.
Northern Prison
The government's $270 million northern regional prison appeared in budget papers for the first time last year, and appears to have stalled too.
While the government had initially set aside $7.8 million in 2021-22, this year's budget shows just $1.5 million has been allocated for the project for the coming 12 months.
The funding timeline was initially $32.6 million in 2022-23 and then $66.5 million in 2023-24, but this has been reduced to $$4.8 million in 2022-23 and $18.3 million in 2023-24, before spending increases more from 2024-25.
Ben Lomond
Works to make Ben Lomond a year-round destination for visitors won't get underway until 2022.
An election promise with an estimated total cost of $2.8 million, the budget sets aside $400,000 in 2022-23, and then $800,000 in 2024-25, with the rest of the funds allocated beyond budget estimates.
Karinya Young Mums
Launceston based family violence early intervention program Karinya Young Mums received a major boost to their cause, and one that was more than what they had hoped for.
The group received $1 million spread over four years, which would see its Young Mums'n'Bubs program secured, as well as surety for the delivery of a secure housing service for women and children in need.
Tamar Estuary
The Tamar remained high on the agenda for Northern Tasmanians, and the government took note.
Debate continued as to the best way to approach the longevity of the estuary, with stakeholders calling for a range of options from dredging to letting the river be.
The Premier unveiled a program that would see dredging of the river return at a cost of $4 million, and the budget reflected that.
Half of that was set to be handed down as soon as possible, although it was unclear as to when the dredging would physically start.
It would see a "site-specific dredging program" aimed at ensuring access to "navigable channels and recreational locations".
To accompany a potential dredging program, the budget unveiled a governance group to keep watch of how it was rolled out and "identify Tamar River challenges". The governance group would also receive $4 million, taking the total Tamar commitment to $8 million.
The dredging itself would receive $2 million per year over two years, while the authority would see the $4 million distributed evenly over four years.
The Tamar Islands Wetlands also received a boost, albeit it not forthcoming for at least three years
The $500,000 commitment would see boardwalks, bird hides and bridge at the popular tourism destination replaced.
The project is set to cost $2.8 million, with $1.3 million delivered after 2025.
UTAS Stadium
The City of Launceston Council revealed a grand plan to upgrade UTAS Stadium in a way though have the potential for it to be the home of a Tasmanian AFL team.
The government took note and unveiled a long-term approach to how it might deliver the ultra-expensive stadium.
Step one was to implement a "Stadium Authority Trust" which would monitor the situation and invest initial funds in the hope they would flourish to the point the cost of the stadium would seem less daunting.
Today's state budget delivered on that authority, setting aside $65 million over the next three years.
Of the allocation, $20 million would come in 2021-22, with the remaining $45 million distributed evenly over the following two years.
Despite the funds flowing, the authority would not see the grand plan for the stadium realised any time soon - at least not before 2025.
Silverdome
A $5 million was handed down to upgrade one Launceston's ball sport hotspots.
The government committed the whole amount to 2021-2022 and construction could start at almost immediately. The $5 million would build a four-court indoor netball stadium.
Roads and bridges
In 2021-22, total roads and bridges infrastructure is budgeted at $370.6 million.
This includes $27.4 million for Northern state roads upgrades, which started in 2019 and is due for completion in 2025 - including the government's contribution to the Midlands Highway. There's $6.4 million budgeted for 2021-22, $7.4 million for 2022-23, and $8.5 million for 2023-24.
There is $66.4 million budgeted over four years for the Launceston and Tamar Valley Traffic Vision, due for completion in 2025. An election promise from 2018, and due for completion in 2025, there is $6.3 million budgeted for 2021-22, $4.5 million for 2022-23, then $55.6 over two years in forward estimates.
The Midland Highway action plan included $118 million over four years. Due to be completed in 2026 at an estimated cost of $565 million, the budget sets aside just $200,000 for 2021-22, $2.7 million in 2022-23, nothing in 2023-24, then $10 million in 2024-25.
Schools and builds
In the North, Exeter High School is the big winner, with the government committing to an $11 million major redevelopment.
The majority of this redevelopment is not set to occur until the 2023-24 financial year, however, with only $150,000 budgeted for this financial year.
The construction of six new Child and Family Learning Centres have been budgeted at $26.6 million, with three to commence construction within this financial year. East Tamar has been identified as a site for this.
A range of schools around the state are also set for an infrastructure renew, with the North and North East claiming six of the 12 schools included for a chunk of the $10 million allocated over a five-year period.
These include South George Town Primary, Mowbray Heights Primary, Lilydale District, Glen Dhu Primary, Ringarooma Primary and Campbell Town District School.
Legana Primary School's $24 million construction is also still kicking along, with $2.57 million budgeted for this financial year. The larger portions of funding will come in the following financial years.