jefferys track feasibility study · welcome and introductions council open the meeting and...
TRANSCRIPT
Huon Valley Council
Public meetings
3 September 2020
Jefferys Track Feasibility Study
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Agenda
Welcome and introductions Council Open the meeting and introduce the consultation team
and GHD
Next steps Deloitte A summary of what will happen next
Jefferys Track feasibility study Deloitte An overview of current track and the feasibility study
Options Deloitte We will describe each of the options
Discussion and questions All incl GHD
One on one discussion Deloitte and
Council
Deloitte and Council representatives will be available
following the meeting for a conversation if you wish
Today’s meeting
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Explain and answer any questions on:
- What the study is and isn’t looking at
- What happens after the feasibility study
- Indicative options for upgrading the Track
- Indicative costs of these options
Understand your views on:
- Concerns with these routes
- Benefits of these routes
- Issues that should be considered in this feasibility
study or subsequently
Why is the feasibility study being done?
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There is considerable interest in a reliable, safe
and direct transport link between the Huon
and Derwent Valleys.
A 2015 study found upgrading the Southern
Explorer route to be not feasible based on
current demand.
There are ongoing safety and maintenance
challenges with Jefferys Track.
The Tasmanian Government has provided a
grant for the Huon and Derwent Valley
Councils to consider the feasibility of
upgrading Jefferys Track.
2015 Southern Explorer Feasibility Study
What is the feasibility study?
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- A high level analysis of the feasibility of a route to better connect
the Huon and Derwent Valleys, focussing on the current Jefferys
Track alignment where possible
- Indicative routes
- High level costs and benefits
- Understanding and reflecting community views
What is the feasibility study doing
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Consultation
- The goal of consultation is to understand the level of community and
industry support (or otherwise) and perspectives on the potential costs
and benefits of upgrading Jefferys Track
Civil engineering / road construction assessment
- GHD has identified technically feasible indicative routes and high-level
costs
A cost benefit analysis
- This will be completed by Deloitte Access Economics based on the costs
identified and the results of consultation
- High level estimates of costs and benefits
- Matters that would need to be analysed and costed in detail
Next steps - after the feasibility study
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- Draft report to Councils early October
- Final report and presentation to Councils and Dept State Growth in
November
- Councils to consider their response to the report
If a decision is made by Councils to proceed beyond this feasibility study next
steps would include:
- Obtaining support and funding for future studies from DSG
- Environmental and heritage assessment
- Geotechnical analysis
- More detailed traffic modelling
- Legal assessment
- Further community consultation
- Road engineering conceptual design, preliminary design, detailed design
- More refined costing
- Business cases
- Applications for State and Federal government funding
- Formal planning processes
The existing Jefferys Track
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• There is evidence of Jefferys Track being
discussed as a link dating back to the 1850s
• It is currently impassable for most vehicles,
particularly after poor weather
• Ownership and management of the Track is
complex and the topography is challenging for
road design
• It is scenic, and used for recreation by walkers,
horse riders, mountain bikers and is a popular
destination for 4WD enthusiasts
• 6 different owners
• Track does not always follow the road reserve
Northern Half
East/West Tk to
Mitchells Rd
Ice Brook to
East/West Tk
Current condition
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Northern half
- Largely a good quality dirt road
- Evidence of rubbish and car dumping
Current condition
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Ice Brook to East West Trail
- 4WD use – ‘the pig pen’
- Significantly eroded, currently impassable to most vehicles
- Car dumping
Current condition
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East West Trail to Mitchells Road
- Rocky and slippery
- Flattish, generally wide track from East West Track to White Timber Trail
turnoff
- Narrow and steep down Mitchells Road to Crabtree Road
Current condition – White Timber Trail
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An overview of the options
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• Upgraded 4WD track from Mitchells
Road to Lachlan – exactly following
current road alignment.
• Sealed commuter road from
Mitchells Road to Lachlan –
Designed for light vehicles up to
8m. Some deviations from current
alignment.
• Industry road for heavy vehicles
from Judbury to Lachlan. Following
Judd Creek Road, White Timber Trail
and Jeffreys Track, with some
deviations from current alignment.
Access from Huonville via Glen
Huon Road.
Upgraded 4WD track
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• Exactly following current road alignment. No upgrades to connecting roads
• Key benefits include:
- Fire fighting
- Improved tourism and recreational opportunities
- 4WD opportunities
• Key issues and challenges:
- Policing and antisocial behaviour
- Repairing existing damage between East/West Track and Ice Brook
- Steep slopes from Mitchells Bridge to top of the hill
- Maintenance costs and preventing future damage
Sealed road suitable for light vehicles - indicative route
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• Largely following current road alignment, but with deviations,
notably at Mitchells Road end
Sealed road suitable for light vehicles
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• Key benefits include:
- Tourist and commuter access between Huon and Derwent Valleys
- Faster access from Huon Valley to Bridgewater Bridge and north
- Some traffic out of Hobart CBD
- Bushfire protection
- Recreational potential
• Key issues and challenges
- Steep slopes from Mitchells Bridge to top of the hill
- Mitchells Bridge upgrade/replacement
- Increased traffic flows from Grove to Mitchells Road and through
Lachlan and need for upgrades – including junctions at Grove
- Widening and upgrade to Mitchells Road impacting properties
- Widening and upgrade to Lachlan Road impacting properties
- Environmental issues
- Weather
- Cost
Connector road upgrades – indicative requirements
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Huon Highway to Mitchells Road:
- Huon highway intersection – upgrade likely required regardless of
whether this project goes ahead
- General road surface and shoulder widening, including:
- Power pole relocations in some areas
- Tree removal in some areas
- Some land acquisition for road widening, including:
• Huon Highway intersection to Crabtree Road intersection
• 800m in last 1500m before Mitchells Road bridge
• 680m between 1.6km and 2.7km from Huon Highway
- Bridge replacement or upgrades
- Additional culverts
Connector road upgrades – indicative requirements
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Jeffreys Track intersection with Hydehurst Road through Lachlan to New
Norfolk
- General road surface and shoulder widening, including:
- Power pole relocations in some areas
- Tree removal in some areas
- Some land acquisition for road widening, including:
- Bridge replacement or upgrades
- May be three properties for which some land acquisition may be
required in first 800m from Hydehurst Road
- Additional culverts
Road suitable for heavy vehicles
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Heavy vehicle
route
Road suitable for heavy vehicles
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• Key benefits include:
- Tourist, commuter and freight access between Huon and Derwent
Valleys
- Faster access from Huon Valley to Bridgewater Bridge and north
- Traffic out of Hobart CBD, including heavy vehicles
- Fire fighting
• Key issues and challenges
- Increased traffic flows, including heavy vehicles, through Judbury
and Lachlan
- Upgrades to feeder roads
- Longer route than Jefferys Track
- May not be viable for traffic coming from north of Huonville
- More significant environmental issues
- Weather
- Significant cost
Connector road upgrades – indicative requirements
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Glen Huon Road from Huonville to Judbury
- Shoulder widening, culverts, traffic barriers
- 3km of road reconstruction
- Land acquisition unlikely to be required
Other details of options
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Indicative routes Vehicle use designed for Design guidelines Design criteria
Heavy vehicle route Up to a semi-trailer (19m) Category 3 road as defined in State
Road Hierachy, and Austroads Class
2 road
Width: 6.0m
Shoulder: 1.0m
Verge: 0.5m
Speed: 70km
Max gradient (may be
steeper in short sections):
9%
Light vehicle route Light vehicles up to 8.8m.
Service vehicle
Category 4 road, as defined in the
State Road Hierarchy and Austroads
Class 3 road
Width: 6.0m
Shoulder: 1.0m
Verge: 0.5m
Speed: 60km
Max gradient (may be
steeper in short sections):
12-15%
All weather access track /
fire trail Four wheel drive vehicles,
fire trucks
Class 4 minor all weather road, as
defined in the Forest Practices Code
by the Forest Practices Authority,
Tasmania, 2015
Width: 3.7m
Shoulder width: .6m
Speed: 40kmph
Desired max gradient:
15% (absolute max 25%)
Comparison of the options and costs
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Indicative routes Huonville to New
Norfolk
Huonville to
Bridgewater
Bridge
Indicative route
cost
Indicative link costs
Industry road from Judbury to White
Timber Trail and then Lachlan via the
northern end of Jefferys Track
(49kms)
42 mins (car)
49 mins (heavy
vehicle)
(67kms)
55 mins (car)
62 mins (heavy
vehicle)
$268 m $8.5m
A sealed road suitable for tourist /
commuter use along the general route
taken by the existing Jefferys Track, but with
some deviations
(35kms)
34 mins (car)
(53kms)
47 mins (car)
$88 m $9.7m
All weather access track / fire trail (a dirt
road similar to the current track, but with
repairs made to the damaged areas) along
the existing Jefferys Track
41 mins 54 mins $4.5 m Nil
No upgrades or additional roads (travel via
Hobart)(118kms)
81 mins (car)
95 mins (heavy
vehicle)
(100kms)
68 mins (car)
82 mins (heavy
vehicle)
- -
Further discussion and input
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- Questions
- What are the costs and benefits of each option?
- Are there other options that should be considered?
Thank you
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Information from this meeting will be available on the Huon Valley Council, and
Derwent Valley Council websites:
• www.huonvalley.tas.gov.au/jefferys-track
• www.derwentvalley.tas.gov.au/our-community/engagement/
These websites are the best resource for you to obtain up to date and accurate
information.
If you have not done so already, we encourage you to provide a written submission via
the online survey by 16 September 2020. You can find a link to the survey on the
Council websites. Feel free to make a second submission if you wish.
For any queries during this time, you can leave a message with Deloitte Access
Economics on (03) 9667 5040 or [email protected].
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