East Derwent Highway Upgrade | Geilston Bay

Public Consultation Summary Report July 2020

The East Derwent Highway is a key link in Greater Hobart’s transport network.

The section of highway between the Tasman Highway interchange and Grasstree Hill Road is mostly dual lanes, except for one section between Golf Links Road and Sugarloaf Road at Geilston Bay.

The East Derwent Highway Upgrade between Golf Links Road and Sugarloaf Road will provide two lanes in each direction and improve intersections. The upgrade is funded by the Tasmanian Government and will improve travel time reliability and safety for all road users. Stakeholders and the local community were consulted in November 2019 to help identify and understand any issues or concerns to consider when designing the highway upgrade. This report provides a summary of the consultation process and outcomes.

Figure 1: Timeline of the East Derwent Highway Upgrade project

Consultation Process We followed a planned consultation process to ensure we met, or offered the opportunity to meet, with key stakeholders in the local area, including business owners and local residents.

We met formally with Clarence City Council and Lindisfarne North Primary School to review the plans and hear their comments, suggestions and concerns. We also offered school parents the opportunity to meet with us in an early evening formal event, held at the primary school.

Once the two week public consultation began, we placed a map and information in the foyer of Clarence City Council, launched a project website and an interactive map for interested stakeholders to leave feedback.

All feedback has been recorded and assessed. Much of the feedback we received has been incorporated into the final detailed design.

What did we hear?

Individual meetings Doorknocking 12 meetings were held with key stakeholders and 26 local residences doorknocked local business owners 8 households directly engaged

Facebook Social Pinpoint online interactive map

One Facebook post with: Live for two weeks 186 likes 2481 site visits 53 shares 104 comments 206 comments

Face to face consultation Other forms of engagement

2 staffed public displays 8 phone calls received during the formal public consultation period 1 school information session 8 emails received 70 attendees at displays 1 unstaffed public display at Clarence City Council 18 feedback forms received foyer during the two week consultation

Consultation Feedback & Outcomes

The upgrade design has had a number of changes and improvements made as a result of feedback you gave us during the consultation. Below is a summary of what you said and our design response.

What did we hear? Our response? Noise Management

As part of the East Derwent Highway Upgrade, the Residents were concerned about increased road Department of State Growth undertook a noise impact traffic noise levels as a result of the upgrade. assessment in October 2019. The assessment determined that the Upgrade would not lead to an increase in traffic noise noticeable to residents. As a result of this assessment the Department will not be implementing noise mitigation measures as part of the Upgrade.

New intersections and traffic congestion

The existing intersection at Clinton Road and East A new signalised intersection will be installed at the Derwent Highway is unsafe and has experienced Clinton Road/ East Derwent Highway intersection. many near misses. The traffic lights and on road line marking at this The community was concerned about increased intersection will be adjusted to give priority to key turn traffic congestion on the highway. movements and be linked to the Golf Links Road signals to reduce congestion. The existing left turn into the school from the highway heading north has had near misses in the This will be improved by the 2 through lanes from the form of car rear enders. southern side of Derwent Avenue continuing through the intersection and past the school.

Additionally, the length of the left turn lane off the highway into the school has been increased to better cater for school traffic in peak periods.

Parking, bus stops and property access

Residents and business owners directly fronting the The preliminary design maintains a parking lane for highway were concerned about parking. residents and business owners at the front of their properties from north of Golf Links Road through to the new Clinton Road intersection. The bus stop on the outbound side of the highway will remain in its current location. The bus stop on the inbound side of the highway will be relocated to the southern side of Araluen St as this is the preferred Will the bus stops be effected by the works? location. New Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) compliant bus stops will be installed in the both north bound and south bound directions.

We are creating an improved access route via Clinton Road for access to the highway for directly impacted properties. Clinton Road residents access to the highway was going to be difficult due to the proximity to the new signals.

Pedestrian safety at school & recreation area

A major concern for the local community is the A fence has been added on to the central median on safety of school children crossing the highway and in Derwent Avenue to prevent pedestrians from crossing the vicinity of the school and the recreation areas. the road haphazardly.

There will be new pedestrian crossings along the new internal school road. Safety of cyclists

Many cyclists use the highway as a cyclist route for We listened to comments about bicycle lane locations commuting and children as a way to get to school. along the highway. After careful consideration, no How can this be done safely? changes to the position of bike lanes have been made and there will be on road bike lanes on both sides of the highway.

There will also be a shared path way for children and parents off road for travelling to school.

Trees and wildlife

The community has voiced concern on how the Research and ecological surveys have been conducted Department will reduce the impact to trees and along the corridor. However, as a result of the wildlife in the area. roadworks unfortunately several trees will need to be removed to make way for the road widening. These trees will be inspected for fauna prior to removal.

As a result of discussions held with local residents and land care groups, we have refined our replacement planting plans to include native shrubs and trees, weed removal and Faggs Gully Creek rehabilitation.

Further information

Visit the project webpage at: www.transport.tas.gov.au/road/projects/ Use the details below to find out more about the project: Phone: (03) 6221 3711 Email: [email protected]

Department of State Growth Parliament Square4 Salamanca Place Hobart TAS 7000 Australia

Phone: 1800 030 688

Email: [email protected]

Web: www.transport.tas.gov.au