Details of north Tas $100m still to come

Driving the growth sectors of tourism, construction and infrastructure development are understood to be the core of an investment for northern Tasmania.

Tasmania's Liberal premier Will Hodgman denies the loss of three federal coalition seats across the north of the state has spurred him to act with a $100 million economic stimulus for the region.

The first-term leader on Monday gave only hints at what the package for northern Tasmania will include, but ruled out the money will be spent on ageing water and sewerage infrastructure, which has long been a complaint for local authorities and residents.

"This is really off the back of what are concerning figures relating to employment and indeed unemployment in the north of the state," Mr Hodgman told reporters when asked if his party's federal election result in the region had inspired the move.

"We want to make sure that people have an opportunity for a job in a part of the state which has transitioned (and) suffered from policies a past government have not supported - some core industry sectors like forestry."

He also nominated housing, infrastructure-development and tourism as among potential growth sectors for the region.

"We've recognised for some time that there is a two-speed economy," Mr Hodgman said of the difference between the state's north and south.

"We're going to release (on Tuesday) a very innovative approach for collaborating (with local government) to make sure that we bring forward as much construction and investment work as possible to support more jobs.

"It's expected that this will generate significant capital investment in the north of the state and will generate significant job opportunities."

The federal coalition lost three seats - Bass, Braddon and Lyons - at the July election, with each taking in parts of the state where unemployment is a concern.

The Labor party, which promised $75 million for a new Launceston water treatment plant during the election campaign, snapped up the trio of seats.

But funding for water and sewerage will not be part of the stimulus spend.

"That is an ongoing issue that we're keen to work through ... (but) that will not be part of the package," Mr Hodgman said.


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Source: AAP



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