Estimates - Transport - Northern Suburbs Rail Corridor

CHAIR - Minister, it would be remiss of this committee not to talk too much about the rail corridor. I think it's always been a feature for many, many years. I'm interested to know, in relation to the rapid bus transit network, where is the money in the Budget for this? What are your proposals currently as to the route? What's occurred since the release of the strategic business case?

Mr VINCENT - Certainly, I'll seek some guidance from the deputy secretary on the technics of it all. We need to release the first part of that so we could activate the business plan for Infrastructure Australia to receive funds to continue development of the rapid bus network. I will ask the deputy secretary to expand on where that's at.

Ms HEYDON - Through you, minister. I'll actually hand over to Ben, as the project's transition.

Mr MOLONEY - Yes. It's added to our portfolio. I manage the area in relation to major transport projects and major transport projects has received the projects in order to deliver the detailed business case for the rapid bus network project. At this stage we're advancing that and undertaking a range of extra investigations to provide the detail necessary for that by the end of the year. In terms of funding, the completion of the detailed business case is being funded jointly by the Australian Government at $6.1 million and the Tasmanian Government at $2.1 million, and the funding is carried over a number of financial years. So, expenditure next financial year is forecast to be $4.3 million and the following year $0.9 million.

CHAIR - In relation to the reference to the rail corridor, is it looking to use the rail corridor?

Mr MOLONEY - Yes, for a section. At this stage, the strategic business case released at the beginning of this year identified that there were a number of potential options from the section between New Town into the CBD, and also we anticipated that the northern corridor would not continue on the rail corridor all the way through the end, but in the far end would use some of the road network. So, a portion is using the rail corridor and we're still investigating what is considered to be the best route from New Town into the CBD.