Legislative Council, Wednesday 28 May 2025

Ms FORREST question to MINISTER for INFRASTRUCTURE, Mr VINCENT

With regard to the Bass Highway – Wynyard to Marrawah upgrade:

1. Has a start date for the upgrade to the very dangerous section between Smithton and Marrawah, where frequent near misses occur, been determined;
a. If so, when will works commence; and
b. If not, when will a decision be made to commence?

2. Can the Government provide a breakdown of the costs to date per section of works for each section upgrade and the date when these were completed?

3. (a) Has any of the funding allocated to this project been reallocated to other road upgrade/emergency works; and

(b) if so, when, how much and for what purpose were funds re-allocated?

4. Can the Government –

(a) provide a breakdown of the total funding allocated for these works by source; and
(b) indicate how much of this funding is unspent?
 
ANSWER:
1. In 2020, the Tasmanian Government developed the Bass Highway – Wynyard to Marrawah Corridor Strategy which targeted improvements including new overtaking lanes, junction upgrades and other improvements to make the road safer, improve travel times and support growth in the region.

a. Stage one delivered 11 priority projects. Stage two involves 10 projects, including two between Smithton and Marrawah. These are:
• improvements to road alignments east of Schuurings Road, Christmas Hills; and
• junction improvements at the intersection of Bass Highway and Dunns Road at Christmas Hills.

b. Timing of the construction of these two projects is yet to be announced as they are pending approval to release the committed Australian Government funding component plus confirmation of costings.

2. Togari and Morris Road works cost a total of $13.7 million

Broken down into the following locations:
• Tollymore $9.2 million
• Port Blackabys $2.5 million.

3. a. Funding has not been reallocated to other road upgrade/emergency works.
   b. No funds were reallocated therefore no dollar figure or purpose is applicable.

4. Total funding commitment for the Bass Highway Wynyard to Marrawah Upgrade program is $100 million, as follows:
• $60 million Australian Government
• $40 million State Government.

Total spent as at 31 March 2025 is $52.4 million on design and construction.

Unspent commitment is $47.6 million noting:

• These funds have been allocated to the construction of four projects and the detailed design of a further two of the outstanding high priority projects identified in the corridor strategy.
• These remaining funds will be spent over the coming two years.

The construction project sites are:
o Stennings Road, junction improvements
o Back Line Road and Myrtle Grove Road, junction improvements and road widening at junctions
o Fagans Road and Schuurings Road, alignment improvements along Bass Highway
o Christmas Hills Road and Dunns Road, junction improvements

• The detailed design sites are:
o Back Line Road and Myrtle Grove Road, junction improvements
o Brittons Road and Bacon Factory Road, junction improvements.

• Cost estimates against individual projects will be prepared by our design consultants once the remaining funds are released from the Australian Government and designs finalised.

• We will continue to deliver improvements along the Bass Highway between Wynyard and Marrawah based on the priorities identified in the corridor strategy until the full funding commitment of $100 million is expended.