The Hobart City Deal projects for Kingborough have been locked in, with Kingborough Council formally endorsing the proposal by the Department of State Growth.
Kingborough projects to be funded under the City Deal include:
– Huntingfield and Firthside park and ride facilities – $6.75 million
– Kingston bus interchange development – $800,000
– Kingston Place Strategy being led by council – $100,000
– Bus stop upgrades – $2.65 million
– Expansion of bus services – $3.5 million
– Complementary council initiatives – $7 million
The Kingston Place Strategy has already been conducted with early access granted for those funds in order to consult with the community and identify important urban design values within central Kingston such as streetscapes, public spaces, the proposed bus interchange and to target infrastructure upgrades.
The Department of State Growth will be retaining and managing Kingborough’s City Deal funding on behalf of the State Government and any spending by council will be subject to scrutiny as to how it meets criteria set by the City Deal Implementation Plan.
Minister for Infrastructure and Transport, the Honourable Michael Ferguson MP said these important projects would provide a boost for the region and improve quality of life for the local community.
“The park and ride facilities will be serviced by additional buses and services, making bus travel to the city faster and more reliable than ever,” Minister Ferguson said.
“In addition, the state will upgrade major bus stops across Kingborough to increase disability access requirements as well as adding shelters and seating to high-use stops.”
Using part of the Hobart City Deal funding for additional buses will allow for a minimum 12-month trial of expanded services across the Kingborough region, including servicing the Huntingfield park and ride facility when it has been completed.
The success of this trial relies on more people using the available public transport and it has not yet been confirmed if future funding will be provided to maintain these expanded services after the trial
The Department of State Growth will be conducting an audit of all bus stops within Kingborough in order to ensure compliance with disability access requirements and to identify where investment is necessary for additional infrastructure such as bus shelters.
Mayor of Kingborough, Cr Dean Winter said the Hobart City Deal was set to deliver the biggest transport infrastructure investment in Kingborough in a decade.
“We could not be more excited to see these projects to come to life next financial year,” Mayor Winter said.
“It is a much-needed and appreciated investment by the State Government in one of the fastest growing areas of Tasmania.
“While the state delivers two new park and ride facilities, along with additional services, Kingborough Council will be rebuilding the Kingston CBD, including the Channel Highway and new bus interchange at Kingston in 2020-21.”
Kingborough Council’s design of its new central business area will be in line with its finalised Kingston Place Strategy, which was also undertaken as part of the City Deal.
The strategy’s development included almost 1,500 survey responses from the local community which helped formulate the new plan.
Kingborough Council will also be contributing $4.5 million over the next three years for capital works projects to encourage active transport.
Works such as cycleways, pedestrian links and improved footpaths will be developed through this funding.
Kingborough Council are in the process of considering the complementary council initiatives which will be funded under the City Deal.
Of the $7 million allocated, $20,000 has been allowed for the development of a Kingborough Bike Plan by the Kingborough Bicycle Access Committee.
Possible works include an extension of Spring Farm Road through to the Kingborough Sports Centre, improving off road walking and cycling trails and a councillor workshop will be conducted to discuss the various options.
Pictured above: The Hobart City Deal upgrades for Kingborough were confirmed recently by Minister for Infrastructure and Transport, the Honourable Michael Ferguson MP (left) and Mayor of Kingborough, Cr Dean Winter (third right). (L-R) Deputy Mayor of Kingborough, Cr Jo Westwood, Deputy General Manager of Kingborough Council Tony Ferrier, Member for Franklin, the Honourable Nic Street MP and Traders in Purple Development Director Jennifer Cooper met at Kingston Park recently to discuss some of the proposed upgrades to central Kingston which will be funded under the deal. (PS)
