Locals weigh in as Campbell Town underpass designs released

The Northern Midlands Mayor says the Campbell Town pedestrian underpass will be going ahead despite recent backlash. LATEST PLANS >>

NORTHERN Midlands Mayor Mary Knowles says the Campbell Town pedestrian underpass will be going ahead despite recent backlash.

The underpass was an election commitment from both parties at the state election 2018.

Ms Knowles said there had been extensive community consultation, including community meetings, where the public had the chance to have their say.

“The project was led by community and wanted by the community, and the protests have now come about the cost,” she said.

The underpass is costing $6m, with $4.8m from the federal government and $1.2m from the state government.

“There is this misunderstanding that if the money isn’t spent on the project it can go on something else in the area, that’s not how it works.”

Mayor Mary Knowles, Northern Midlands Council.

A request arising from the Campbell Town District Forum meeting earlier in the month that council indicate their position in support of the committee’s opposition to the underpass was not supported at the Northern Midlands council meeting on Monday.

“It’s not a council project it’s Department of State Growth and the federal government has put some funds into it, and the design process is happening and actual work is starting to happen,” Ms Knowles.

Opponent to the project Kim Peart said work was beginning in October and they had not been given an opportunity to properly analysis the plans.

“My main concern is the council had the opportunity to treat it as a development application and it then would be available for public comment, but they didn’t.”

He said there was a greater need to provide safe crossings over the busy at Midland Highway closer to town.

“Where the shops are, towards the centre of town is where most people who come to town are crossing the highway and they are having to dodge cars,” he said.

Ms Knowles said it was necessary to have the underpass at the chosen location because of infrastructure from the recently built multiple purpose centre.

‘Frustrated’ locals call for town meeting over controversial underpass

The proposed Campbell Town Underpass has continued to spark questions and doubts from the community.

The $6m project will begin construction in October, but Campbell Town locals are questioning whether the money could be put to better use.

Owner of gift shop Coco Blue Jo Taylor said many locals visiting her store had expressed their “frustration” over the announcement.

“It was something that was an election promise from both parties,” she said.

“I can see that there does need to be a solution but I don’t know that there’s been a fair chance to toss up options.”

Ms Taylor cited previous estimates the project would cost $1.9m comparing them to the now much higher $6m cost, jointly funded by the federal and state governments.

Infrastructure and Transport Minister Michael Ferguson said the project arose because local groups had warned it was “only a matter of time before a child or elderly person would be injured or killed”.

Michael Ferguson Liberal member. Picture Eddie Safarik

“The Campbell Town District School leadership and local community lobbied strongly for a grade-separated crossing and were supported by the Northern Midlands Council,” he said.

Campbell Town resident Barry Pyke said barely any people crossed the road at the Bridge St and High St intersection beside the local pool where the underpass was planned to be built.

“No one walks that far up out of Campbell Town to cross the road,” he said.

“We wanted a pedestrian crossing in there with lights, which would be a lot cheaper.”

Mr Pyke feared the underpass could invite less safe night time activity.

But a State Growth spokeswoman said lighting would be installed at the site for safer 24-hour access.

Designs for the new Campbell Town pedestrian underpass. Source: Transport Tas.

Mr Pyke said he and other locals wanted to hold a township meeting to have their say.

It is understood a state politician will visit the town next week to hear feedback on the project from locals.

The Northern Midlands Council will indicate their position on the project at a meeting on Monday.

Former Clarence City Council alderman Kim Peart said the township could instead benefit from money injected into a civic and cultural centre near Campbell Town Hall, or into projects that benefited the locality.

More information transport.tas.gov.au

Controversial Campbell Town underpass draws heat from locals

Plans have emerged for a $6m underpass on a major road connecting the state’s north and south, but locals have questioned whether the money could have a better use.

The Department of State Growth has released plans for the Campbell Town pedestrian underpass - a project both major state parties had committed to as election promises to help people safely cross the highway.

The plans reveal the underpass will be built near where High St intersects with Bridge St in close proximity to the swimming pool and Campbell Town Hospital.

Designs for the new Campbell Town pedestrian underpass. Source: Transport Tas.

A Department of State Growth spokeswoman said the low-gradient ramp would accommodate electric scooters, wheelchairs and prams and would include 24-hour lighting.

She said VEC Civil Engineering will begin construction in October and finish it next year.

The $6m project comprises of $4.8m from the federal government and $1.2m from the state government.

But Campbell Town Local District Forum chair Jill Clarke has said the $6m could be used more effectively, and said the ramp would only benefit schoolchildren for a couple of months each year, namely during school carnivals or swimming excursions.

She said medical centre patients could also use the van with wheelchair access to cross the road.

“We’re just staggered now to know the amount of work going into it.” she said.

“We are so against the blowout of the cost, it’s an exorbitant amount.

“We’re trying to get through, it’s not viable.”

Campbell Town local Danny Saunders said the underpass was “controversial”.

“People who are opposed to it would like some (less expensive) alternative,” he said.

Mr Saunders suggested a crossing where traffic was required to slow to 40km/h.

The intersection where the Campbell Town pedestrian underpass is to be built. Source: Google Maps.

Infrastructure and Transport Minister Michael Ferguson said the project was driven by the Campbell Town community.

He said the cost had escalated to comply with disability access standards.

“We were told by local groups that it was only a matter of time before a child or elderly person would be injured or killed,” he said.

“The Campbell Town District School leadership and local community lobbied strongly for a grade-separated crossing and were supported by the Northern Midlands Council.

Readers Tasmania weather picture. Fast moving clouds over the historic red brick bridge, Campbell Town. Picture: Andrew Hopwood

“Building an overpass is a terrible idea in terms of access for people with mobility challenges and while a basic underpass is also achievable, without proper ramps it would be useless for elderly people, prams and people with a disability.”

A Northern Midlands Council spokeswoman said the Campbell Town District Forum raised concerns about the cost of the project at their meeting in September.

“(The forum) requested that Council indicate their position,” she said.

“A motion will go to the September 20 Council Meeting for Council’s consideration.”