Jefferys Track Feasibility Study

Huon Valley Council Public meetings

3 September 2020

0 Agenda

Welcome and introductions Council Open the meeting and introduce the consultation team and GHD

Next steps Deloitte A summary of what will happen next

Jefferys Track feasibility study Deloitte An overview of current track and the feasibility study

Options Deloitte We will describe each of the options

Discussion and questions All incl GHD

One on one discussion Deloitte and Deloitte and Council representatives will be available Council following the meeting for a conversation if you wish Today’s meeting

Explain and answer any questions on: - What the study is and isn’t looking at - What happens after the feasibility study - Indicative options for upgrading the Track - Indicative costs of these options

Understand your views on: - Concerns with these routes - Benefits of these routes - Issues that should be considered in this feasibility study or subsequently

2 Why is the feasibility study being done?

There is considerable interest in a reliable, safe and direct transport link between the Huon and Derwent Valleys.

A 2015 study found upgrading the Southern Explorer route to be not feasible based on current demand.

There are ongoing safety and maintenance challenges with Jefferys Track.

The Tasmanian Government has provided a grant for the Huon and Derwent Valley Councils to consider the feasibility of upgrading Jefferys Track.

2015 Southern Explorer Feasibility Study 3 What is the feasibility study?

- A high level analysis of the feasibility of a route to better connect the Huon and Derwent Valleys, focussing on the current Jefferys Track alignment where possible - Indicative routes - High level costs and benefits - Understanding and reflecting community views

4 What is the feasibility study doing

Consultation - The goal of consultation is to understand the level of community and industry support (or otherwise) and perspectives on the potential costs and benefits of upgrading Jefferys Track

Civil engineering / road construction assessment - GHD has identified technically feasible indicative routes and high-level costs

A cost benefit analysis - This will be completed by Deloitte Access Economics based on the costs identified and the results of consultation - High level estimates of costs and benefits - Matters that would need to be analysed and costed in detail

5 Next steps - after the feasibility study

- Draft report to Councils early October - Final report and presentation to Councils and Dept State Growth in November - Councils to consider their response to the report

If a decision is made by Councils to proceed beyond this feasibility study next steps would include: - Obtaining support and funding for future studies from DSG - Environmental and heritage assessment - Geotechnical analysis - More detailed traffic modelling - Legal assessment - Further community consultation - Road engineering conceptual design, preliminary design, detailed design - More refined costing - Business cases - Applications for State and Federal government funding - Formal planning processes

6 The existing Jefferys Track

• There is evidence of Jefferys Track being discussed as a link dating back to the 1850s

• It is currently impassable for most vehicles, particularly after poor weather

• Ownership and management of the Track is Northern Half complex and the topography is challenging for road design

• It is scenic, and used for recreation by walkers, horse riders, mountain bikers and is a popular destination for 4WD enthusiasts Ice Brook to East/West Tk • 6 different owners East/West Tk to • Track does not always follow the road reserve Mitchells Rd

7 Current condition

Northern half

- Largely a good quality dirt road - Evidence of rubbish and car dumping

8 Current condition

Ice Brook to East West Trail

- 4WD use – ‘the pig pen’ - Significantly eroded, currently impassable to most vehicles - Car dumping

9 Current condition

East West Trail to Mitchells Road

- Rocky and slippery - Flattish, generally wide track from East West Track to White Timber Trail turnoff - Narrow and steep down Mitchells Road to Crabtree Road

10 Current condition – White Timber Trail

11 An overview of the options

• Upgraded 4WD track from Mitchells Road to Lachlan – exactly following current road alignment.

• Sealed commuter road from Mitchells Road to Lachlan – Designed for light vehicles up to 8m. Some deviations from current alignment.

• Industry road for heavy vehicles from Judbury to Lachlan. Following Judd Creek Road, White Timber Trail and Jeffreys Track, with some deviations from current alignment. Access from via Road.

12 Upgraded 4WD track

• Exactly following current road alignment. No upgrades to connecting roads

• Key benefits include: - Fire fighting - Improved tourism and recreational opportunities - 4WD opportunities

• Key issues and challenges: - Policing and antisocial behaviour - Repairing existing damage between East/West Track and Ice Brook - Steep slopes from Mitchells Bridge to top of the hill - Maintenance costs and preventing future damage

13 Sealed road suitable for light vehicles - indicative route

• Largely following current road alignment, but with deviations, notably at Mitchells Road end

14 Sealed road suitable for light vehicles

• Key benefits include: - Tourist and commuter access between Huon and Derwent Valleys - Faster access from to Bridgewater Bridge and north - Some traffic out of CBD - Bushfire protection - Recreational potential

• Key issues and challenges - Steep slopes from Mitchells Bridge to top of the hill - Mitchells Bridge upgrade/replacement - Increased traffic flows from Grove to Mitchells Road and through Lachlan and need for upgrades – including junctions at Grove - Widening and upgrade to Mitchells Road impacting properties - Widening and upgrade to Lachlan Road impacting properties - Environmental issues - Weather - Cost

15 Connector road upgrades – indicative requirements

Huon Highway to Mitchells Road:

- Huon highway intersection – upgrade likely required regardless of whether this project goes ahead - General road surface and shoulder widening, including: - Power pole relocations in some areas - Tree removal in some areas - Some land acquisition for road widening, including: • Huon Highway intersection to Crabtree Road intersection • 800m in last 1500m before Mitchells Road bridge • 680m between 1.6km and 2.7km from Huon Highway - Bridge replacement or upgrades - Additional culverts

16 Connector road upgrades – indicative requirements

Jeffreys Track intersection with Hydehurst Road through Lachlan to

- General road surface and shoulder widening, including: - Power pole relocations in some areas - Tree removal in some areas - Some land acquisition for road widening, including: - Bridge replacement or upgrades - May be three properties for which some land acquisition may be required in first 800m from Hydehurst Road - Additional culverts

17 Road suitable for heavy vehicles

Heavy vehicle route

18 Road suitable for heavy vehicles

• Key benefits include: - Tourist, commuter and freight access between Huon and Derwent Valleys - Faster access from Huon Valley to Bridgewater Bridge and north - Traffic out of Hobart CBD, including heavy vehicles - Fire fighting

• Key issues and challenges - Increased traffic flows, including heavy vehicles, through Judbury and Lachlan - Upgrades to feeder roads - Longer route than Jefferys Track - May not be viable for traffic coming from north of Huonville - More significant environmental issues - Weather - Significant cost

19 Connector road upgrades – indicative requirements

Glen Huon Road from Huonville to Judbury

- Shoulder widening, culverts, traffic barriers - 3km of road reconstruction - Land acquisition unlikely to be required

20 Other details of options

Indicative routes Vehicle use designed for Design guidelines Design criteria

Heavy vehicle route Up to a semi-trailer (19m) Category 3 road as defined in State Width: 6.0m Road Hierachy, and Austroads Class Shoulder: 1.0m 2 road Verge: 0.5m Speed: 70km Max gradient (may be steeper in short sections): 9%

Light vehicle route Light vehicles up to 8.8m. Category 4 road, as defined in the Width: 6.0m Service vehicle State Road Hierarchy and Austroads Shoulder: 1.0m Class 3 road Verge: 0.5m Speed: 60km Max gradient (may be steeper in short sections): 12-15%

All weather access track / Four wheel drive vehicles, Class 4 minor all weather road, as Width: 3.7m fire trail fire trucks defined in the Forest Practices Code Shoulder width: .6m by the Forest Practices Authority, Speed: 40kmph , 2015 Desired max gradient: 15% (absolute max 25%)

21 Comparison of the options and costs

Indicative routes Huonville to New Huonville to Indicative route Indicative link costs Norfolk Bridgewater cost Bridge Industry road from Judbury to White (49kms) (67kms) $268 m $8.5m Timber Trail and then Lachlan via the 42 mins (car) 55 mins (car) northern end of Jefferys Track 49 mins (heavy 62 mins (heavy vehicle) vehicle)

A sealed road suitable for tourist / (35kms) (53kms) $88 m $9.7m commuter use along the general route 34 mins (car) 47 mins (car) taken by the existing Jefferys Track, but with some deviations

All weather access track / fire trail (a dirt 41 mins 54 mins $4.5 m Nil road similar to the current track, but with repairs made to the damaged areas) along the existing Jefferys Track

No upgrades or additional roads (travel via (118kms) (100kms) - - Hobart) 81 mins (car) 68 mins (car) 95 mins (heavy 82 mins (heavy vehicle) vehicle)

22 Further discussion and input

- Questions - What are the costs and benefits of each option? - Are there other options that should be considered?

23 Thank you

Information from this meeting will be available on the , and websites: • www.huonvalley.tas.gov.au/jefferys-track • www.derwentvalley.tas.gov.au/our-community/engagement/

These websites are the best resource for you to obtain up to date and accurate information.

If you have not done so already, we encourage you to provide a written submission via the online survey by 16 September 2020. You can find a link to the survey on the Council websites. Feel free to make a second submission if you wish.

For any queries during this time, you can leave a message with Deloitte Access Economics on (03) 9667 5040 or [email protected].

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