Leith community rallies to fight $15m six-metre overpass plan

A small community in the state’s North-West is mobilising against government plans to build a $15m overpass that would require residents’ homes to be bulldozed.

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THE Leith community – particularly those set to lose their homes and views – will lobby the state government to ditch its plan to build a $15m overpass over the Bass Highway and construct a roundabout or introduce new speed limits instead.

Public consultation on the Leith overpass project has started and residents plan to turn out in force to tell officials an overpass is not needed.

The government advised residents of the small North-West village earlier this year that it intended to build an overpass.

Under the current plans, two homes would be bulldozed and other residences would be overshadowed by the six-metre concrete structure.

“A roundabout or lower speed limit are not completely off the table and this is our chance to tell the government any safety concerns about the intersections on the highway can be addressed without ruining Leith forever,” resident Tony Downey said.

“There have been three fatalities on this stretch of road in the past 20 years and none had anything to do with traffic at the intersections.

“Reducing the speed limit to 80km for that small stretch of highway would add 10 seconds to a trip from Devonport to Ulverstone.

“But it seems the government is still fixated on an overpass. What about the endangered wildlife on both sides of the highway? What about people’s homes? There have been many sleepless nights for those directly impacted over the last few months.”

Signs at Leith as locals protest against plans for a highway flyover that would result in their houses being compulsorily acquired. Picture: HELEN KEMPTON

The government said its project aimed to improve safety for vehicles turning right from Short St and Braddons Lookout Rd.

“Tasmanians are invited to have their say at one of seven 90-minute consultation sessions in Turner’s Beach on July 23 and 24,” the Department of State Growth said.

“Information will include the background of the project, a summary of previous community and stakeholder engagement, consideration of options such as a roundabout, speed reduction, and right-turn bans, how various design solutions were developed, and a summary of next steps.”

Bookings are essential due to Covid-19 regulations and can be made online.

Each session will have space for 45 participants. Additional sessions will be organised subject to demand.

Project materials will also be on display at the Central Coast Council offices in Ulverstone and on the Department of Transport website from Friday.

Fight to save homes from ‘massive concrete monolith’

THE residents of a small coastal village – including two families who may lose their much-loved homes – have made their fight against an overpass project an election issue asking their local MP to visit before May 1.

The community of Leith, between Devonport and Ulverstone, has joined forces to fight a controversial Department of State Growth proposal to build a “massively over-engineered” $15m plus overpass across the Bass Highway which dissects the village.

Leith residents under a timber structure which shows how high the proposed overpass would be outside Tony Downey's property

The overpass is being pushed by the State Government as a way to address road safety issues across two highway intersections.

But most of Leith’s 400-500 residents want the speed limit to be reduced from 110km/h to 80km/h across the 1.3km stretch of highway to give motorists time to merge safely.

“The now caretaker government has completely ignored the residents’ feedback and suggestions and continues to push an overpass as the only option with no consideration to the two other suggestions of a reduced speed limit or a roundabout,” resident Leo Beuermann said.

Signs at Leith as locals protest against plans for a highway flyover that would result in their houses being compulsorily acquired. Picture: HELEN KEMPTON

Mr Beuermann and his wife Fay along with Tanya and Robert Wallace have received letters saying their homes would be compulsorily acquired if the construction works go ahead.

The Beuermanns have lived in the house they built in Bridge Street, Leith, for 34 years and are “worried sick” they might have to leave. The Wallaces have lived in their home in the same street for 14 years.

Tony Downey, who will lose land to the “massive concrete monolith” has built a timber structure outside his home to show just how big it will be.

On the other side of the highway another five to six homes will be partially acquired and become “unliveable” residents say due to a rising embankment of six metres.

Project Leith members have extended an invitation to Deputy Premier Jeremy Rockliff who is a Braddon MP to visit to talk about the overpass project.

“We invite you to visit Leith, during the week of April 19-25 to hear and address our grave concerns,“ the letter says.

“Your visit to the site at Leith, where it is proposed to construct the overpass will enable viewing of topography and impact upon residents, which is not possible in an office situation.”

Mr Rockliff said he had received a request to meet with a number of local residents regarding the bypass he looked forward to doing so.

“My door is always open to meet people with and listen to their concerns,” he said.