23 May 2019

Will Hodgman MP

2019-20 Budget: Maintaining the Momentum, Investing for Growth in the North West and West Coast

Tasmania has come a long way in the past five years. Our economic growth leads the nation, almost 13,000 more Tasmanians have found a job, and our reputation as a visitor destination and producer of world-class produce has never been stronger.

But there is still more to do. And that’s why the 2019-20 State Budget is all about Maintaining the Momentum and Investing for Growth.

Importantly, this Budget delivers on our plan to grow the economy, create jobs, invest in essential services and protect the Tasmanian way of life.

Specific Budget measures to Maintain the Momentum in the North West and West Coast total more than $336 million, including:

• Mersey Community Hospital Capital upgrades - $31.58 million
• Delivering King Island Hospital redevelopment stage 2 - $9.76 million
• Increasing staff at the Mersey Community Hospital - $4 million
• Improving maternity services at the North West Regional Hospital - $1.95 million
• Air conditioning upgrades at the North West Regional Hospital - $500,000
• Delivering the Burnie Ambulance Station - $5.9 million
• Building the Smithton Ambulance training station - $1.03 million
• New drug and alcohol rehabilitation beds in Ulverstone - $2.4 million
• Building the new K-12 Penguin School - $19.75 million
• Redeveloping Devonport High School - $10.5 million
• Upgrading the Spreyton Primary School - $1.65 million
• Delivering State road upgrades – North West, including the Bass Highway west of Wynyard - $35.72 million
• Making North West freight roads safer - $75.85 million
• Supporting the West Coast Wilderness Railway - $16 million
• Delivering the Coastal Pathway Project - $4.8 million
• Building the Ulverstone Cultural Precinct - $2.5 million
• Upgrading the Burnie Court Complex - $8.3 million
• Improving the Ashley Youth Detention Centre - $6.86 million
• Replacement Magistrate for the North West - $1.98 million
• Cradle Coast Authority partnership for strategic growth - $300,000
• Cradle Mountain master plan and visitor experience - $80.05 million
• UTAS Burnie Transformation- $15 million

The 2019-20 State Budget ensures that the momentum is maintained and we are investing strategically so all Tasmanians share in a growing, prosperous State.