Question - River Tamar Bridge - Progress

Thursday 5 June 2025

Ms ARMITAGE question to MINISTER for INFRASTRUCTURE, Mr VINCENT

[2.53 p.m.]

With regard to the proposed bridge across the River Tamar, noting that public consultation and receipt of submissions has recently finished, when is the government likely to report? Secondly, can you please provide an update and also the likely timeframe if the proposed bridge should ever proceed?

ANSWER

Mr President, I should acknowledge the CEO of Launceston City Council in the gallery. I need to make sure this answer is spot on for him, I am sure.

I have a bit of interest in this project, having lived in Launceston and been associated with the growth that has been around the Legana-Danbury Park area. My association goes back to 1967.

Ms Armitage - Was that 1967?

Mr VINCENT - Thank you, yes, it certainly was. We have seen substantial growth in that area. I must admit having my first management office right next to the Wellington St intersection. I saw every morning and afternoon the congestion and the amount of traffic trying to fit through that intersection. I am very much aware as Infrastructure minister that it is important that we look at how we are going to move traffic in the future around Launceston. This project is vital.

We have finished the initial consultation on 18 April and at least one, if not two, extensions were given for a bit more information to come in. The department will be seeking to release that report by about the end of July. A further bit of consultation and then the business plan will be updated and released in early 2026, it is envisaged at this stage. Very pleased to hear the federal Labor government announced $20 million towards the project which brought it up to about $136 million in the budget the state has also allocated.

The most important thing about that $20 million is it will allow us to extend that business plan and really look at the different options that have been put forward. When you look at that, it is fairly important because of the disruption to some of the areas at Riverside, but it is also vitally important to look at how that potential bridge and off ramps will connect with the Mowbray-Invermay area to allow for that traffic to flow sensibly to the residential growth areas as well as the commercial areas out around Rocherlea, plus being able to move a different line of traffic in and out of the city.

Those options are going to be vital for the growth of those suburbs of Launceston into the future. I would not like to put a timeline on the construction of the bridge because, as we know, the business plan can strike different issues and then when you look at the mudflats on either side, it is probably an extended smaller version of what I imagine and see out of Bridgewater.

There is a lot of work in testing the geotech of the area and making those assumptions, but now that we have that $20 million commitment from the federal government and allocations in the Budget from us, I am confident of moving on with the business case and that will set the timelines for the rest of it. I really ask the state Labor also to support this project going forward.