The Hodgman Liberal Government is committed to supporting tourism projects and jobs across the State, particularly in regional Tasmania.
I am very pleased that the Strategic Infrastructure Corridors (Strategic and Recreational Use) Bill has now passed both houses of Parliament.
This important legislation will enable consideration of non-operational rail lines to be used for uses other than rail, such as cycle and walking tracks, horse riding and running, and a number of our regional communities have expressed interest in new uses for their non-operational rail corridors.
A prime example is the North East Rail Trail, which is expected to help position Northern Tasmania in the year-round, nature based tourism market as well as having clear benefits for local communities in terms of health and recreation.
The Bill also allows the Government to ‘bank’ all strategic rail corridors within the State, which will allow development of these types of projects on the basis that the corridor can be reclaimed for freight or passenger rail if required in the future.
Support for the Bill includes:
Passage of this Bill allows communities around Tasmania to creatively consider use of many kilometres of former rail formations, much of which opens up previously inaccessible areas of the State.