Media release – Circular Economy Huon, 2 November 2022
Circular Economy Huon calls for Halt to the 5th Lane
At 11.15am on Thursday 3 November, the State Joint Standing Committee on Public Works will hold a further public hearing on the Southern Outlet Transit Lane project for Hobart, with evidence to be submitted by Michael Ferguson, Minister for Infrastructure and Transport.
Circular Economy Huon (CEH) presented evidence at the first hearing and has provided a written submission to tomorrow’s hearing, clearly demonstrating the project is in direct conflict with the aims of the government’s own transport strategies: ‘Our Infrastructure Future – 30 Year Infrastructure Strategy 2019’ and the ‘Southern Integrated Transport Plan 2010’.
Gerry White, Public Officer for CEH, which represents sustainability advocates from the Huon Valley, stated: “We all want to solve congestion in Hobart, particularly during peak hours, but this extra lane will merely exacerbate the problem”. He continues: “It is well accepted that building roads actually increases traffic. The City Deal investment gives us the opportunity to explore and implement measures that decrease the number of passenger vehicles entering the city, by increasing public transport options, carpooling, community transport and active transport”.
State government released a document detailing the results of the second stage consultation in July 2022. The submissions received were almost unanimously against the project. Concerns raised included the extra lane not addressing congestion in Hobart itself or the bottleneck at the Davey Street and Macquarie Street intersection; the expense, and compulsory land acquisitions on Dynnyrne Road.
Respondents were generally supportive of peak-hour clearways through Hobart, but wanted more innovative solutions, drawing on new technologies and the success of projects overseas. People also want more and safer cycling infrastructure. In the government’s own words: “Support for a greater uptake of public transport and carpooling was the most highly rated project feature in the survey and feedback was received on this topic throughout the survey, Facebook and phone calls”.
CEH calls for further work on this expensive white elephant to be halted and the $40m+ price tag to be redirected to improved park-and-ride facilities, cheaper public transport, flexible small-scale commuter services, on-demand electric shuttle buses, best-practice carpooling, and further options for walking and cycling.
White concludes: “We are in an environmental and climate change emergency that is likely to cause huge societal disruption. Transport already accounts for around 30% of Tasmania’s greenhouse gas emissions and therefore represents a major mitigation opportunity. Electrifying our entire fleet is a long way off, and it’s simply not sustainable to have an ever-increasing number of private vehicles on our roads”.
—
Readers who are opposed to the 5th lane are urged to phone or write to Minister Ferguson, on 6777 1032 or [email protected]
