Financial devastation: Residents brace for potential delays to the reopening of the Tasman Highway
East Coast residents facing financial devastation from the closure of the Tasman Highway are bracing for potential delays over its reopening. LATEST UPDATE >>
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East Coast residents are bracing for potential delays to the reopening of the Tasman Highway as they continue to deal with the financial devastation of the closure.
Images published by the Mercury showed large rocks and boulders strewn across the highway, leaving some less confident in the promised completion date of mid-July.
The Highway was closed in May after overhanging rocks posed a risk to safety
Owner of the Buckland Store Alison Palmer said she had her doubts about the timeline.
“My biggest concern is the mesh they’ll need to install on the wall at the end, I was told it would take two weeks.” Mrs Palmer said.
“They’re saying mid-July but I’ve put it in my head to be hopeful for the end of July,”
Mrs Palmer said the longer the road was closed, the longer her business would struggle.
“I’m in a worse position than Covid, we’re down 60 and 70 per cent depending on the day,” Mrs Palmer said.
“There are some days that aren’t so bad because of the community support where people are driving here to support us but it’s still not awesome.”
The State Government has provided financial assistance to some businesses operating at a loss due to the closure.
Grants of between 2,500 and 25,000 have been made available for businesses who lost more than thirty per cent of turnover.
Mrs Palmer said the Buckland Store had received assistance.
“It’s certainly helped with keeping staff on,” she said.
“But with the amount of money we lose each week, it won’t cover what we’ve lost over the time it will just keep our head above water so we can keep ticking over.”
Another business affected is the Triabunna Takeaway, which is awaiting a decision on whether it will receive assistance.
Manager Malcolm Weeding was also concerned about potential delays.
“It’s going to affect the business for longer if they can’t,” Mr Weeding said.
“If it stays like this, I’d have to cut hours back, I’ve got four staff altogether.”
Labor Lyons MP Brian Mitchell said the infrastructure Minister needs to be held to account if the state government is unable to meet its deadline.
“Too many critical infrastructure projects have blown out under the Liberals,” Mr Mitchell said.
“The people of the East Coast are suffering and can’t afford the Highway to be closed a day longer than is absolutely necessary.”
Infrastructure Minister Michael Ferguson said the Tasman Highway remains on track to be opened in mid-July.
He said Earthmoving equipment will arrive on-site on Wednesday to start taking away the large amount of material removed.
“The key next step will be for the road itself to be assessed to identify any repairs required before reopening the Tasman Highway.”
“Work will also start soon on installing mesh across the bottom of the rock face to help prevent small rocks falling onto the road in the future.”
“This work will not delay the reopening of the road.”
Drone footage uncovers Tasman Highway mess weeks from reopening
Curiosity got the better of Shannon Wells who flew his drone into the rock clearance zone of the Tasman Highway near Orford and was surprised to find it still covered with rocks.
Mr Wells, a drone enthusiast and managing director of scenic flight business Par Avion, was visiting his parents’ shack at Orford when he decided to view the clearance progress for himself. His drone footage captured at 3.30pm on Sunday showed the highway still strewn with large rocks and boulders.
“There were lots of flashing lights and quite a few vehicles there but no one working, and my golly there were a lot of rocks there,” Mr Wells said.
“I’m surprised I must admit.
“It doesn’t look like it will be ready in a couple of weeks, maybe in a month.”
The Tasman Highway was closed in late May due to the danger posed by overhanging rocks, and works currently underway to remove the rocks and remediate the road surface are expected to be completed by mid July.
A better video of what (isn't) happening at Orford on a Sunday afternoon #politaspic.twitter.com/4r8Y4w7oZh
— Shannon Wells (@shannon_wells) June 27, 2021
Mr Wells said with school holidays coming and interstate travel less likely for families due to coronavirus outbreaks across the country the timing was not good for the Tasman Highway to be closed.
“It is a pretty big issue as people want to do things for school holidays, it’s disappointing,” he said.
“I go up there once or twice a month with the kids but with the road closed I haven’t gone up there a couple of times as it’s a bit of a drive.”
A spokeswoman for the Department of State Growth said the rock removal work at Paradise Gorge was progressing and the Tasman Highway was still expected to be reopened in mid-July.
“Clearing of the lower levels of the rock face is now well advanced,” they said.
“Washing down of the rock face continues, using both helicopter water drops and high-pressure hoses.
“Prisms have been installed on the rock face to monitor stability of the rocks during the works.
“Brackets have been fixed to the rock face for the longer-term monitoring system that will be installed soon.”
The spokeswoman said potholes on Wielangta Road, which were caused by rainfall on Saturday night, were repaired on Monday and will be graded today.
“The Department will continue to monitor Wielangta Road and Lake Leake Road daily and repairs will be undertaken as required.”
Close to 2000 tonnes of large rocks have been dislodged from the rock face during the removal works so far.
Government pays out $200k over Tasman Highway closure
BUSINESSES affected by the Tasman Highway closure have been paid more than $200,000 in support to offset the lack of business, it has been revealed.
The road at Paradise Gorge near Orford was closed on May 28 due to the danger posed by overhanging rocks
It is expected to reopen in mid-July after safety works are complete.
Grants of between $2,500 and $25,000 will be available to businesses which have lost more than 30 per cent of their turnover as a result of the closure.
The government has set aside $1 million to help businesses and said more would be made available if needed.
Infrastructure Minister Micheal Ferguson today confirmed the payouts to date.
“I can advise the House that 17 applications have now been approved for a total of $211 714 in that first tranche and that these applicants were notified on Tuesday 22 June 2021 and their payments have been arranged.
“I am referring to the Business Hardship Critical Support grants for the Orford road closure.”
Mr Ferguson also took aim as what he said were rumours the work was running behind schedule.
“Vegetation clearing and cleaning of the rock face is continuing and a system is also being set up which can monitor fine movements in the remaining rock face,” he said.
“Of course, the safety of our work teams remains a top priority and as part of additional safety measures, mesh will be installed across the bottom of the rock face to help prevent small rocks falling onto the road in the future.
“This work will not delay the reopening of the road. Any rumours to the contrary are entirely false.”
Sensors installed as clean up begins for highway’s reopening
CREWS are installing sensors and cleaning a hazardous rock face with hopes a major East Coast highway can re-open by the middle of next month.
The Tasman Highway has been closed since late May to manage the risk of a rock fall at Paradise Gorge, near Orford.
The site of the road closure is about 1.5km from Orford, if travelling from Hobart, and has impacted traffic in both directions.
The Department of State Growth said work teams were cleaning the rock face and installing sensors after the last large rocks that posed a risk were removed at the weekend.
The department said the installation of sensors was taking place in tandem with the cleaning process to ensure the highway was reopened as soon as it was safe.
Sensors are being deployed to monitor the rock face for movement, which the department said would provide reassurance that it was safe to reopen the highway by mid-July.
Motorists travelling to and from the East Coast have had to detour via Lake Leake Rd while Wielangta Rd is also open, but is a gravel road not suitable for large volumes of traffic.
The state government this month unveiled an assistance package for East Coast businesses affected by the road closure.
Grants of $2500 and $25,000 are available for businesses that have lost more than 30 per cent of turnover, with businesses having until Wednesday (JUNE 23) to apply.
Successful applicants were expected to receive the assistance between June 21 and June 26.
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