Work underway on final UTAS building
Published on 19 November 2021
The $536 million Launceston City Deal continues to deliver jobs, drive economic stimulus, and unlock lasting benefits for the community through city-defining projects.
Fifteen of the City Deal’s original 33 commitments have been completed, with five new projects added, the fourth annual report since the Deal’s signing shows.
This progress is on full display today, with major construction starting on the $97 million Willis Street development – the largest building in the $283.4 million redevelopment of the University of Tasmania’s (UTAS) Inveresk campus.
This building will include state-of-the-art facilities focusing on food science and agriculture research, nursing simulation labs to train the future health workforce and new spaces for courses in allied health.
Federal Minister for Communications, Urban Infrastructure, Cities and the Arts, the Hon Paul Fletcher MP, said the City Deal was already delivering economic outcomes for the region.
“The Morrison Government has committed $130 million to the redevelopment of the University of Tasmania’s Inveresk campus, which is one of the largest infrastructure projects undertaken in Launceston.
“This city-shaping project is the centrepiece of the $536 million Launceston City Deal, under which all three levels of government are working together with the private sector to deliver community infrastructure projects that stimulate the economy, bolster liveability and secure a stronger future for the city.”
Tasmanian Minister for State Growth, Roger Jaensch MP, said that work was now progressing on all of the buildings for UTAS’ new campus at Inveresk – with the North Esk River pedestrian-cycling bridge recently opening to the public.
“All major contracts for construction have been awarded to Tasmanian firms supporting the local construction industry through the impacts of COVID-19 and beyond.
``The staged approach of the Inveresk campus is allowing more on-going work for apprentices and other employees, maximising the benefits for local Launceston companies and businesses.
``It is clear that the investments being delivered under the Launceston City Deal will make Launceston Australia’s most liveable and innovative city,’’ Mr Jaensch said.
Federal Member for Bass, Bridget Archer MP, said the redevelopment of the Albert Hall is also progressing well, delivering works to redefine the hall as a cultural destination for Northern Tasmanians.
“The Greater Launceston Transformation Project has been a particularly major success, providing 600 Internet of Things kits to 40 schools across the Greater Launceston region to bolster our education system and inspire our children to engage in the ever-growing technology fields.
“It has also upgraded traffic signals at over 100 sites across the city with the latest traffic management technology, increasing road safety and delivering efficiencies across the road network,” Mrs Archer said.
City of Launceston Mayor Albert van Zetten said the Council’s inaugural Cultural Strategy is now complete and progressing to the implementation stage to leverage Launceston’s rich cultural assets.
“Stage 1 of the City Heart Project is drawing to a conclusion, with wayfinding signs completed earlier in the year and the final two projects now underway.
“Planning for Stage 2 of City Heart is progressing well, with investigations and concept designs underway for St John and Paterson streets,’’ Mayor van Zetten said.
More information on the Launceston City Deal, including further details of progress in latest annual report and three-year review, is available here.