SECOND READING SPEECH BY
HON. E. G. WHITLAM, M. lP.
TASMAN BRIDGE RESTORATION BILL ( NO, 2) 1975
HONOURABLE MEMBERS WILL RECALL THAT ON
APRIL 1975 I INTRODUCED A BILL TO PROVIDE FOR THE
RESTORATION OF THE TASMAN BRIDGE FOLLOWING ITS COLLAPSE
INTO THE DERWENT RIVER AFTER THE S. S, " LAKE ILLAWARRA"
HAD COLLIDED WITH IT, THE BILL WAS PASSED BY BOTH
HousEs OF THE PARLIAMENT AND RECEIVED THE ROYAL ASSENT
ON 19 MAY 1975. THE TASMAN BRIDGE RESTORATION ACT 1975
PROVIDED FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A JOINT TASMAN BRIDGE
RESTORATION COMMISSION TO SUPERINTEND AND DIRECT THE
COMBINED SALVAGE AND REBUILDING OPERATIONS.
HONOURABLE MEMBERS WILL-ALSO RECALL THAT
SHORTLY AFTER THE DISASTER THE AUSTRALIAN AND TASMANIAN
CJVERNMENTS AGREED TO ESTABLISH A JOINT EXPERT ADVISORY
COMMITTEE ON A SECOND DERWENT CROSSING. THIS COMMITTEE
HAS SUGGESTED THAT CONCURRENTLY WITH REPAIRS TO THE TASMAN
BRIDGE, PROVIS-GN COULD BE MADE FOR IT TO BE WIDENED TO
PROVIDE A FIFTH TRAFFIC LANE,
IT IS PROPOSED TO MAKE USE OF THE ROADWAY
BOTH ON THE EASTERN AND WESTERN SIDE OF THE GAP FOR
FABRICATION OF SOME ELEMENTS OF THE NEW SUPERSTRUCTURE AND
FOR ERECTION WORK. IT IS THEREFORE NECESSARY FOR THE
WIDENING AND RECONSTRUCTION WORK TO BE CLOSELY CO-ORDINATED
AND IT IS CONSIDERED ESSENTIAL FOR BOTH PROJECTS TO BE* UNDER
THE CONTROL OF THE ONE AUTHORITY IN ORDER TO AVOID DTFFICULTIES
WHICH COULD ARISE IF TWO AUTHORITIES WERE TO BE OPERATING IN
THE SAME AREA AT THE SAME TIME.
ACCORDINGLY, I AGREED WITH THE PREMIER OF
TASMANIA THAT THE WORK INVOLVED IN WIDENING THE BRIDGE SHOULD
BE UNDERTAKEN BY THE TASMAN BRIDGE RESTORATION COMMISSION AND
THAT THE GOVERNMENT OF AUSTRALIA WOULD MEET THE COST OF THIS
WORK ESTIMATED TO BE $ 3 M. / 2
-2
THE BILL NOW BEFORE THE HOUSE PROVIDES FOR
APPROVAL OF A SUPPLEMENTARY AGREEMENT BETWEEN AUSTRALIA
AND TASMANIA TO STRUCTURALLY MODIFY THE'TASMAN BRIDGE TO
ACCOMMODATE FIVE LINES OF TRAFFIC CONCURRENTLY WITH THE
RESTORATION OF THE BRIDGE TO FULL OPERATIONAL CONDITION,
THE AGREEMENT EMPOWERS THE COMMISSION TO
PERFORM ANY FUNCTIONS ADDITIONAL TO ITS PRESENT ROLE
TO ENABLE IT TO COMPLETE ITS TASK, SUBJECT TO THE
SAME CONDITIONS AND POWERS IT EXERCISES UNDER THE TASMAN
BRIDGE RESTORATION ACT .1975. I SHOULD POINT OUT TO
HONOURABLE 7iMBERS THAT FUNDS FOR THIS WORK ARE PROVIDED
IN ApRoPR:. ATION L! LL ( No, 2) 1975/ 1976 UNDER DIVISION 964
iHE WORKS PROPOSED WILL GREATLY ENHANCE THE
CARRYING CAPACITY OF THE TASMAN BRIDGE WHEN RECONSTRUCTION
COMPLETED AND WILL DO MUCH TO REDUCE TRAFFIC CONGESTION IN
THE PERIOD BETWEEN RECONSTRUCTION OF THE TASMAN BRIDGE AND
COMPL , TION OF CONSTRUCTION OF A SECOND CROSSING,
I COMMEND THE BILL TO THE HOUSE, ITEM 03,
IS