Orford businesses already feeling the pinch after Tasman Highway closure

The sudden closure of the Tasman Highway into Orford has led to fresh concerns over one of the alternative routes to the town, which one operator has described as “unsuitable” for most vehicles.

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BUSINESSES in and around Orford are already feeling the sting after a section of the Tasman Highway was cut off for repairs.

Some are already reporting a loss in visitor numbers resulting in a drop in profits.

The Buckland Roadhouse is one of those businesses affected.

Zac Palmer, the son of the owner, said the roadhouse been affected severely.

“All the traffic is going through Copping or Oatlands so no one’s going through Buckland,” Mr Palmer said.

“Compared to when the road was about to close, we’ve only done a fifth of what we normally do, if that.”

The rock above the Tasman Highway, just south of Orford. Picture: Chris Kidd

Mr Palmer said if the road was closed for a long time, it might mean cutting down hours for staff.

“Yesterday we did about $5500, today we’d be lucky to get $2000,” he said.

Darlington Vineyard owner Louise Stranan said business at all but stopped at the Orford vineyard.

She said there would usually be 10-12 people a day visiting.

“Normally we’d have had two or three groups before lunch, but so far not a soul,” Ms Stranan said.

“It’s most likely because of the road closure.”

Maria Island Walk manager Ben Brown said the main problem with the road closure was the alternative drive.

People trying to reach Orford from the state’s South can use either Wielangta Road or Lake Leake Road, but the latter is a detour of up to three hours compared to the one hour of Wielangta Road.

However, Wielangta Road is an old forestry road, and Mr Brown said it isn’t suitable for a bus or many vehicles.

“I took a small Subaru Outback through there, you’d just about lose your coins and everything through there,” Mr Brown said.

Mr Brown also said guests who travelled on their own would miss out on a scenic drive.

“Instead of the nice pleasant hour-fifteen trip in the bus, it’s now a three-hour bus trip.”

Wielangta Road is an alternative route to Orford, but is suitable only for 4WD vehicles. Picture: Chris Kidd

A government spokesperson said work was being performed to upgrade Wielangta Road.

“Given the likelihood of increased traffic during the closure, the Department of State Growth worked with the Wielangta Road’s owners and undertook some immediate maintenance and improvement works, including grading the road, laying new gravel, and installing extra road markers and signage,” they said.

The spokesperson also said, where possible, motorists should take Lake Leake Road rather than Wielangta Road.

One Buckland resident said Wielangta Road should have been properly maintained during recent years to avoid this situation.

“Over the years, everyone has pointed out it should be maintained for emergencies,” they told the Mercury.

“It was always going to happen that we would be cut off from Orford and Triabunna.

“It should have been maintained, not just for emergencies, it could have also been an alternative route for tourists coming up from the Peninsula,” she said.