Lyons candidate’s disappointment in 10-month wait for highway fix
After ten months of delays, the Lyell Highway’s landslip saga is far from over, with a Lyons candidate saying the delays pose a risk to locals and the south’s connection to the West Coast.
Tasmania
Don't miss out on the headlines from Tasmania. Followed categories will be added to My News.
It’s been 10 months since floodwaters washed away part of the bank along the Derwent River and caused a landslip next to the Lyell Highway – and still no repairs have been made.
A landslide occurred during last September’s damaging floods, which left part of the highway between Hayes and Rosegarland weakened and led to the state government’s Department of State Growth closing one lane.
The State Growth website currently states that “investigations are currently happening to help develop the design for the repair work on the Lyell Highway” that will create long-term stability of the road and road side.
Independent candidate for Lyons Michelle Dracoulis said she has heard from locals that the lights used to regulate traffic on the one-lane section of road sometimes stop working, a dangerous issue for a road used by school buses, log trucks and cars.
“It would be remedied a lot more quickly if it had happened in a metro area,” Ms Dracoulis said.
“This is a matter of urgency for a road that’s used by both children on buses, industry in trucks and vans and connects the south to the West Coast.
“Rural areas matter just as much as metro areas.”
Ms Dracoulis said she was disappointed the works had not yet been completed.
A State Growth spokesperson said the department was in the process of awarding a contract for the landslide repair.
They also confirmed the upcoming election had not impacted the project’s timeline but did not give an exact date for works to begin.
“We expect the repair works to start in the coming months,” the spokesperson said.
“We thank the community for their patience and will keep them updated as we have more information to share about the project’s start of works.”
More Coverage
Originally published as Lyons candidate’s disappointment in 10-month wait for highway fix
Voters favour Winter in hung parliament: YouGov poll
The final public poll of the Tasmanian election campaign released on Friday night points to another hung parliament, with unprecedented support for minor parties and independents.
AI plan to speed up Tassie approvals
Artificial intelligence would be used to streamline council planning process under a proposed plan from the Local Government Association of Tasmania. How AI is currently being used in councils.