Nature-based playground part of $800k Fern Tree Park upgrade

An upgrade at Fern Tree Park and money for city cycling lanes is part of a $1.65 million Federal Government package for Hobart announced today.

Hobart Deputy Lord Mayor Helen Burnet, MP Andrew Wilkie, and Bicycle Network TasmaniaÕs Alison Hetherington announced $1.65m in Federal Government funding for cycling infrastructure and the redevelopment of the Fern Tree Park. Picture: MATHEW FARRELL

A NATURE-based playground and improved picnic area and walking track will be included in an $800,000 upgrade to Fern Tree Park in Hobart.

Federal independent MP Andrew Wilkie and Hobart Deputy Lord Mayor Helen Burnet this morning announced the upgrade of the park into a “modern gateway” for visitors.

“I’m excited about the Fern Tree Park redevelopment because this will give a new lease on life to the gateway to the Pipeline Track and to kunanyi/Mount Wellington,” Mr Wilkie said.

“The Fern Tree proposal is shovel-ready and will include a nature-based playground, picnic area, public toilet and upgrades to the car park and walking track entrance.”

Also today, Mr Wilkie and Bicycle Network Tasmania’s Alison Hetherington welcomed $850,000 in Federal Government funding for bicycle infrastructure.

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“We should be doing everything we can to encourage people to get active and that starts with building the best cycling infrastructure we can,” Mr Wilkie said.

“In particular there’s been a desperate need for a long time to build a proper bike lane on Huon Road. There are tight corners and narrow roads which at the moment are downright dangerous.

Funding for cycling infrastructure includes $500,000 for a bike lane on Huon Rd between Hillborough Rd and Pillinger Drive, $100,000 for an outbound marked bike lane on Collins St from Victoria St to Molle S, $50,000 for a bike lane on Forster St from New Town Rd to Valentine S, $100,000 for on-road bike parking stations, $80,000 to upgrade the access link from the Cenotaph carpark to the new Macquarie Point cycleway and $20,000 for a cycleway connection from Marieville Esplanade to Sandy Bay R.