Tasmanian Times asked Huon Valley Council Mayor Bec Enders for responses to the following questions.
TT: There is a suggestion ‘going around’, that before these studies were commissioned, which is perhaps even before August 2019 when the grants were first reviewed, HV Council asked state government if this grant could be used for something other than the current studies. Can you please confirm, deny, or expand on that ‘rumour’ please?
Enders: In 2017 Huon Valley Council in conjunction with Derwent Valley Council requested funds to,
a) upgrade Jefferys Track to a higher standard fire trail and,
b) to conduct a feasibility study in making the track a link between the two Valleys.
The upgrade works were estimated at $97,000 and the study was estimated to be $100,000 (based on the Plenty Link Road study). The state government (the funders) granted $147,000 on the basis that $97,000 was for upgrade works and $50,000 was a contribution towards the study providing that both Councils contributed the rest ie: $25,000 each.
After consultation with various owner stakeholders it was decided that proposed upgrade works would be fruitless and possible money wasted as certain four wheel drivers would still ‘tear-up’ the track and create bogs for their buggies to run through (I stress this is not all 4-wheel drive clubs that use the area).
Based on this advice a request was put to the funders asking if the grant could be used just for the study without the co-contribution from each Council. This was approved. There are some variable aspects in the studies being undertaken by both consultants, eg: defining a suitable route and engineering requirements for each scenario and the extent of community engagement required in both municipal areas. This is the reason that the total costs have not yet been finalised.
TT: If Council were to suspend the feasibility study are you able to advise how much of the $147,000 might still be on the table?
Enders:
The Councils are not proposing to halt this study. The Councils need to fulfil their obligation to the grant funder.
TT: Why has Council expressed a review of Jefferys Track options and not asked the consultants to also consider the Plenty Link Road in these studies?
Enders: Both Councils would like to understand if Jefferys Track is a feasible option for a link road. This has been talked about and questioned since 1866 and yet there has not been a feasibility study completed in modern times.
Reference to 1866 supplied by Huon Valley Council
This study is specifically about Jefferys Track. That does not mean that when this is complete that the Councils are not interested in comparing to the Plenty Link Road. In fact, that is possibly the next stage of the project although that would depend on cost to complete and how that would be funded.
TT: Why is it the HV councillors have suggested they are/were unaware of the details of this feasibility study, and completely unaware of what a link road through Jefferys, Crabtree and/or Upper Judbury would mean to our communities?
Enders: There was a Media Release 7 October 2019 outlining the project. The process is still underway and will be made public once the process is complete. Community engagement which is to run until 16 September 2020 is precisely to ascertain what a road (if ever built) would mean to the communities.
I have not had any indication that councillors have suggested that they were unaware of the details of this feasibility study, and completely unaware of what a link road through Jefferys, Crabtree and/or Upper Judbury would mean to our communities.
However, I am aware that the impacts of a potential road in both municipal areas are not yet defined or fully understood as the final route is not yet determined, community engagement and the cost benefit analysis have not been completed. This is one of the main reasons the study is required.
TT: Have you Mayor, or to your knowledge any other Councillor, visited the area of Jefferys Track in Crabtree, Judds Creek Road or the White Timber trail.
Enders: I can confirm that I have driven, as a passenger, on Judds Creek Road, White Timber trail and part of Jefferys Track. I cannot confirm if all councillors from both Councils have done so.
JENNY CAMBERS-SMITH: Letter to Mayor Enders.
GEOFFREY SWAN: Huon to Derwent Valley Road Paved with ‘Reckless Dereliction’.
