Transcript - radio interview - Sea FM, Devonport, Tasmania - Breakfast with Patrick Doran

PATRICK DORAN [HOST]: Joining us on the show now is Catherine King, the Australian Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government. Welcome to the show, Catherine.

CATHERINE KING [MINISTER]: Great to be with you.

PATRICK DORAN: So, what brings you to Tasmania?

CATHERINE KING: Well, a few things. I'm having a chat to the council about the commitment we made in the election to the Devonport sports stadium. Just have a look at where the plans have progressed to on that. That was a $25 million commitment we made and the council is well progressed with planning for that. So, we'll get a bit of an idea about time frame, when it'll go out to tender and all of those things once they pop their application into me to make sure the money is all sorted. I'm also here speaking about the Growing Regions Program, which is a new program for community and sporting infrastructure that councils and not-for-profits can apply for. That's open for expressions of interest at the moment, that's for projects between $500,000 to $15 million, and there's a good strong process that's attached to that. And I'm also having a look at the fabulous new waterfront, which is so beautiful. It's so lovely to see all of our cities. We sort of turned our back on the water for a long time, and the fact that you've now opened up to the water and that's again, a program that was funded from the federal government. So, just having a bit of a look at some of that today, but also just hearing a bit about how the town's going. Meeting with the Cradle Coast Authority group of councils as well, to have a chat to them about this beautiful part of the world.

PATRICK DORAN: Yeah. What are you chatting to the Cradle Coast Authority about? Just what in particular for the northwest coast?

CATHERINE KING: Generally, it'll be in my portfolio. It'll be things about infrastructure or projects that they're thinking of putting funding into at some point, so all of those sorts of things, but also just a general health check about what's happening in the area so that I can make sure that my colleagues back when we all head back to Canberra after the winter break. That we all talk about where we've been and how things are going in particular areas. So, it's really a bit of a touch base to see what's going on in this part of the world.

PATRICK DORAN: Yeah, that's so cool. Local precincts across Australia are so important for supporting community development and engagement. How are you supporting the development of these precincts and local government and in particular Devonport?

CATHERINE KING: Yeah. One of the new approaches that I've learned after a fair bit of time in parliament, when you get to go around and see what other communities are doing, and the waterfront development is a really good example of that, particularly in towns that have got long, long histories. You've often got precincts that are just, they haven't, they're not working anymore. They're not really activated. You wouldn't sort of want to go there at night or during the day, really. And you can sort of see with a bit of private sector development, council initiative, some state government money, that you can really change the way in which your town's working and the way in which you interact with it and people. It just makes places, more liveable places that you really want to come, but also where you want tourists to come, and it really showcases what you're doing. So, we've got a new approach with a precinct program that councils again can also apply for, which is really about putting together partnerships to just change the way your city looks. And that's, again, why I'm having a look at the waterfront development, because I think it's a really good example of what you can do. Bit of private sector investment in the hotel and great amenity, with great facilities for people, but really connecting the water into the city. And it's not uncommon. Most cities where we've got a river or even a seafront, you think of Newcastle. We've always turned our back on them. They were the industrial hubs of your cities. And so now everyone wants to open your cities up to the water. And that's part of what the precinct programs are about.

PATRICK DORAN: Yeah. It's so nice down there, the Devonport Foreshore, isn't it?

CATHERINE KING: Yeah, it's just beautiful. I'd sort of driven past it a couple of times, seeing it under construction. Couldn't quite envisage what it was going to look like, but just looking out on it right now, it's just beautiful. They've done a great job. Really good bit of urban planning. So, I'm looking for examples of that across the country that we can showcase to other places as well.

PATRICK DORAN: So, nice. Well, welcome to the northwest coast and I hope you enjoy your time here. Just a quick little chat, just to catch up on why you're in Tassie. Thank you so much for joining us on the show.

CATHERINE KING: It is absolutely a pleasure. And it's just so beautiful down here. It's such a pleasure to be able to come.

PATRICK DORAN: Catherine King there, who is the Australian Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government.