Chopper drops water on clifface to remove loose gravel hanging over Tasman Highway
A helicopter has been brought in to help with removal of rocks hanging over the Tasman Highway, as an updated timeline of when works will finish is impending. LATEST >>
Tasmania
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- Dangling rock forces closure of major highway
- Orford businesses already feeling the pinch after Highway closure
Specialist crews are continuing to remove large rocks hanging over the Tasman Highway near Orford.
A helicopter was brought in on Monday afternoon to drop water over the clifface to remove loose gravel and debris.
The State Government is expected to announce the time frame for the reopening of the Tasman Highway this afternoon.
“The helicopter helps us to do this work faster than by hand and will improve safety for our workers and will continue to be used when required during the works,” a spokesperson from State Growth said.
“Once this important safety work has been completed, work will continue dropping rocks from the rock face.”
“There is some damage to the retaining wall next to the Tasman Highway but it is only once all the rocks and gravel have been removed that we will be able to do a full assessment of the wall and the road and work out what repairs will be needed.”
The department said although the retaining wall is not convict built and is not heritage listed measures will be put in place to minimise damage and protect the wall due to its local significance.
Despite the Wielangta Road being graded over the weekend, drivers are being advised to travel with caution with wet weather forecast for the week.
The department will continue to update residents with the progress of the road’s repair via their Facebook and website.
Financial assistance package to be announced for Tasman Highway businesses
Businesses affected by the road closure on the Tasman Highway will soon be able to access support, with a financial assistance package set to be announced next week.
Infrastructure Minister Michael Ferguson said details around how much businesses would receive and when it would be available was being determined.
“Today I’m calling on businesses that haven’t already done so to please register their details and do an assessment of their impacts,” Mr Ferguson said.
Those affected can contact Business Tasmania to register.
It’s not known when the section of highway will reopen after more than 200 tonnes of potentially dangerous rock fell yesterday.
“We totally understand the community will want to know exactly how long the highway will continue to be closed for, I cannot provide that information today,” Mr Ferguson said.
A clearer timeline is expected to be known as more work to remove rock is conducted.
“It’s hundreds of tonnes yet to go. We’ve made incredible progress on day one,” the Infrastructure Minister said.
“There’s more than fifty rocks that are suspect. They’re all being tested on at a time.”
Damage to the highway as a result of the felling is also not known.
The rock will remain on the road for now, but will be removed when more has been brought down.
“Early advice is the retaining wall still looks sound. And that the rock came down in a very controlled manner,” Mr Ferguson said.
“That process and the remediation of the road, we don’t have information to hand as to how long that will take.”
As those in the area travelling via Wielangta Road, motorists have been warned to drive to conditions.
“A small number of people have been driving too fast and overtaking,” Mr Ferguson said.
“Let’s not have a situation where there’s an unnecessary crash there which is only going to block access.
“Police are on site and traffic inspectors are on site.”
Mr Ferguson said the road has held up well and works will continue to maintain it.
“We’re going to have graders out there today and tomorrow, there will be slow signs and stop signs and there will be traffic management,” he said.
“There might be ten minute delays.”
Rain is forecast next week which is expected to impact the road.
‘BANG!’ First rocks come crashing down during Tasman Highway repairs
The first of several rocks hanging over a section of the Tasman Highway has safely been brought down, after the road was closed last week.
Work began on the section at Paradise Gorge, 1.5 kilometres from Orford, after the risk of serious rock fall was identified.
Motorists driving between Hobart and Orford have been travelling via Lake Leake Road or Wielangta Road as an alternative.
The Department of State Growth says removing the rock involved inserting an industrial airbag behind the rock and slowly pushing it from the rock face.
Gravel was put in place to break the rock’s fall and protect the road.
The Department says more work will need to be done before the road can reopen.
“This is the first of several rocks that need to be removed. We will learn how much rock needs to be removed from this section as the rock removal works continue,” a Department of State Growth spokesperson said.
“Once all of the rocks and gravel have been removed we will be able to assess the state of the road and get a better idea of when it will reopen.
“We thank everyone for their patience and understanding as this important safety work is being undertaken.”
‘Jobseeker-style’ payments needed for cut off communities
AS works begin on the removal of a 60-tonne rock above the road at Paradise Gorge, west of Orford, businesses and families on either side of the Tasman Highway closure are coming to terms with the effects it will have on their lives over the next few weeks.
The owner of Triabunna’s local service station, Jay Baulch, is feeling the pinch just three days after the road’s closure.
“We’re down [in customers] about 30 per cent. We haven’t been told anything further about the works – it’s been very quiet,” Mr Baulch said.
The local business owner has even had to pause the apprenticeship of his employee, who is unable to commute from Midway Point.
Federal Member for Lyons Brian Mitchell said compensation in the form of a JobKeeper payment should be urgently implemented by the state government for affected businesses along the East Coast.
“A JobKeeper-style payment would help ensure eligible businesses can survive this severe interruption to their trade and that employees retain income and a link to their affected place of work,” Mr Mitchell said.
Buckland business owner Sally Murfet is also calling for more support and said she, along with many other residents, had been campaigning for these works for years.
“This is a government-induced problem with 48 hours notice that has severely impacted employment, business, education and our local economy,” she said.
“I really don’t think the [state] government has taken East Coast residents into consideration.
“They’re all thinking Orford is some sleepy seaside village where people come to spend time at the shack and that’s the extent of those who are impacted.”
On Sunday, trucks shuttled between Orford Quarry and Paradise Gorge, collecting gravel to be laid on the highway, acting as a cushion to protect the road surface from falling rocks during the repair.
“On Monday through to Wednesday, contractors will start removing loose debris and smaller rocks from the cliff face, and clearing vegetation from the top of the cliff, to help set up a safe worksite,” a State Roads spokesperson said.
“We will also install concrete barriers, which will protect the road and the retaining wall from damage.”
Buckland father Tony Dowling said the repairs were disruptive for his five-year-old son El, who will be attending Sorell School for one week before heading to a satellite school at Buckland Hall.
“He seems to be quite happy to go to Sorell School, but he was a bit apprehensive over the weekend,” Mr Dowling said.
“It looks like there will be about 15 to 16 kids at the Buckland Hall from next week.”
State Roads will continue to provide updates on the Tasman Highway closure on its website.
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