A new agency set up to oversee Tasmania’s major infrastructure projects has officially launched, as part of a wider public service restructure that includes a target to cut hundreds of jobs.
Building Tasmania began operating on Thursday and will act as a single body responsible for delivering roads, housing, transport and other major projects.
Infrastructure and Transport Minister Kerry Vincent said it marked an important step for the state.
“For the first time, Tasmania will have a single agency dedicated to delivering the major projects our communities rely on every day,” Vincent said.
He said the new structure would sharpen accountability, improve coordination and deliver better results.
“Building Tasmania will bring together specialist expertise to manage our most complex and high-value projects, lifting our capacity, reducing risk and ensuring we deliver infrastructure for future generations,” Vincent said.
The agency was first flagged by Premier Jeremy Rockliff in his State of the State address on March 3, when he announced a major machinery-of-government overhaul.
The restructure dismantles the Department of State Growth and splits its functions across new bodies, including a separate economic development entity and a new tourism, events and creative arm.
The overhaul includes a target to cut 250 full-time equivalent jobs from the Department of State Growth changes alone.
The state government says the broader restructure will free up more than a quarter of a billion dollars for the budget.
More changes will follow through the year, with capital projects from other agencies set to transfer into Building Tasmania from September 10.
Homes Tasmania will join the new agency on December 3.
Head of the State Service Kathrine Morgan-Wicks acknowledged the scale of the change for public servants in an email on Thursday.
“I recognise this is a big change for the state service,” Morgan-Wicks said.
She said the government was working to provide clarity about new structures and workforce arrangements, while employee assistance services were available for staff who needed support.
“Your hard work and dedication remain highly valued. I wish you all the best in this new chapter,” she said.
