Dynnyrne residents fear losing homes in Southern Outlet development
Residents of a Hobart suburb have discovered their homes could be flattened to make way for a highway upgrade that was promised at the last election. SEE WHAT OUR LEADERS SAY >>
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MEG Smith and her husband have put their “blood sweat and tears” into their 110-year-old Dynnyrne home, but she and several locals have now received letters of acquisition from the Department of State Growth to make space for a fifth lane on the Southern Outlet.
Mrs Smith said residents from about 17 houses were coming to grips with the “really distressing news” their homes might be flattened.
“We’re just a group of people who are struggling to work out what on earth is happening,” she said.
“They certainly haven’t told us anything about valuations.
“I’m sure that as of this morning, my house is probably worth about $2.”
Mrs Smith said she agreed the highway connecting Hobart with Kingborough, the Channel and Huon Valley needed work, but she didn’t feel the new plan was worth sacrificing her “beautiful house” for.
She said the government’s $35m upgrade between Macquarie St and Olinda Grove did not account for major freight using the route between 7am and 10am.
“I think the bus lane is a good idea but people need to be really aware this is only an incoming bus lane, it’ll do nothing for your outbound traffic,” she said.
“If I thought that losing my house might contribute to the solution … I could come to peace with some of it … but I just can’t even see any logic to it.
“We just want to know what is the plan. Once we know that we can determine what our next steps are.”
Mrs Smith said she knew little about how to make an effective submission to the consultation.
Mrs Smith’s local Labor candidateDavid O’Byrne labelled the Liberal party’s infrastructure plans as “shambolic” and “cruel”.
“Today’s revelations not only reveal another bungled infrastructure project but show how little regard the Liberals have for Tasmanians and their property,” Mr O’Byrne said.
“The Liberals have decided now, right before an election, is the time to rush through a fifth lane on the Southern Outlet.”
Mr O’Byrne said the “half-baked” fifth lane was an inadequate solution to a 2018 election promise.
“This doesn’t resolve the issue with the congestion at the top of Macquarie, Davey (streets) and at the bottom of the Southern Outlet – it just gets to that choke point quicker,” he said.
“Tasmania needs traffic solutions to fix traffic issues, however, rushed projects that disregard residents and their homes are not the answer.”
Premier Peter Gutwein said residents were being consulted about the compulsory acquisition of properties.
“We need to reduce congestion and a fifth transit lane will do that,” Mr Gutwein said.
“Not that long ago David O’Byrne was calling on the government to get on with building this lane. Now he is being a roadblock.”
Liberal spokesman Michael Ferguson, who has been responsible for infrastructure and State Growth, criticised Mr O’Byrne for not proposing an alternative City Deal improvement for the Southern Outlet.
“David O’Byrne has spent the past three years whingeing and whining about progress on delivering the Southern Outlet congestion-busting fifth lane, which has been developed in line with the Hobart City Deal partners on time,” Mr Ferguson said.
“To now be complaining about the consultation process for the next stage of the project is the height of hypocrisy.
“What is David O’Byrne’s alternative? And has he spoken to his fellow Labor candidate, the Mayor of Kingborough, who is a signatory to the deal and this project?”
A State Growth spokeswoman said they had contacted 17 property owners and would contact two more.
She said the T3 lane would accommodate private vehicles with three or more occupants, buses, taxis, motorbikes and emergency vehicles.
“The Department is currently in initial discussions with property owners to seek their feedback on the plans, understand their circumstances and determine the best outcome,” the spokeswoman said.
“The concept design will be open for public comment in the coming weeks, following consultation with potentially affected stakeholders.
“Depending on the outcome of the consultation, construction of the fifth lane is anticipated to start in late 2022 with a budget of $35.5 million.”
The spokeswoman said the design did not include provision for green space, but involved normal buffer zones for noise mitigation.
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