CHAIR – Minister, going back to the northern access road, I think it was budgeted at $75.9 million. I’m not sure if that figure was from when it was described in the 2019 Hobart City Deal. Could you confirm how much has been spent already of that $75.9 million and will it cover costs for the spending, design and any works undertaken?
Mr VINCENT – I will ask Mr Moloney to give details on that.
Mr MOLONEY – I will need to seek an accurate number in terms of expenditure to date. It has been relatively modest in the context of the $70 million –
CHAIR – It’s $75.9 million, isn’t it?
Mr VINCENT – I can give a bit more detail on it. In 2024‑25 there was $210,000 for some of the design work done, there is an allocation for 2025‑26 of $1.19 million, for 2026‑27 it is $26.9 million, for 2027‑28 it is $25.3 million, and for 2028‑29 it is $25.3 million.
CHAIR – Should the stadium be refused and not go ahead, will this access road be built?
Mr JAENSCH – Wouldn’t want to chance it. Get in behind it.
Mr VINCENT – It was identified under the Hobart City Deal as required for development of the whole wharf area there.
CHAIR – Yes, but in the Hobart City Deal there was a transit centre, which I think comes up every so often, and that was critical as part of the Hobart City Deal and has never been delivered. Will it still be delivered?
Mr VINCENT – Certainly we’re working on it at this stage. If anything changes I will have to get back to you on that.
CHAIR – In relation to access, clearly at the moment access through the Macquarie Point site for the intercity bikeway is an area where the bike path was concreted and is not accessible; it’s a bike track to nowhere. What will the access be in relation to the northern access road regarding cyclists heading north?
Mr VINCENT – Mr Moloney
Mr MOLONEY – Through you, minister. At this stage we are still developing our concept designs. As I mentioned previously, within the scope at this stage we’re anticipating ensuring there is a minimum 3m‑wide shared‑user path connecting the Macquarie Point precinct adjacent to the new northern access road then to the existing cycleway.
Our current concept designs also includes a – at this stage, we’re looking at an underpass, in order to make sure that we separate out the active transport users and the northern access road itself in terms of port traffic and things like that for safety reasons. We’re still working through those concepts. It is very early stages of consulting with our key stakeholders and then more broadly with the public. In that regard, we’re happy to provide a short description of what the project involves, includes and excludes. Then, perhaps through the minister, whether or not separate briefings are provided at a suitable time.
