Tasman Highway Corridor Strategy

The project team will be engaging with community, visitors, industry and government along the corridor from 15 April 2024 to 20 May 2024.  We want to hear your ideas and feedback about the corridor to help plan this strategy. The project team will be offering a variety of opportunities to engage with you in both in-person and online platforms.  These options are outlined below.

Come to a consultation session

There will be 10 pop-up consultation sessions along the corridor at the locations and dates and times outlined in the table below.  Our project team will be at each session to have conversations with attendees and listen to your ideas and feedback.

No need to RSVP, please just drop in.

Complete our survey

The online survey for this corridor strategy will help us gather broad information about road users and how they are using the road corridor.  The survey is anonymous and should only take a few minutes to complete.

Please click here to access the survey.

Provide feedback using our online map

We have developed an online interactive map where you can zoom in to specific areas of the Tasman Highway from Sorell to Launceston and provide comments and engage in discussion on other comments and feedback.  This lets you provide specific feedback about key areas along the corridor.

To access the online Social PinPoint map please Click Here

Public displays

We will have several public displays set-up along the corridor which will be available to view from Friday, 19 April 2024 during business hours.  The public display includes key information about the corridor strategy on posters, postcards and a large map which are easy to access and view.  The public display locations are below:

• Sorell Council, 47 Cole Street, Sorell
• Launceston City Council, Town Hall, 18-28 St John Street, Launceston
• Dorset Council, 3 Ellenor Street, Scottsdale
• Break O’Day Council, 34 Georges Bay Esplanade, St Helens
• Glamorgan Spring Bay Council, 9 Melbourne Street, Triabunna

Remember, provide your feedback before the community consultation period closes on Monday, 20 May 2024.

There is no funding allocated for the construction of projects that will be identified as part of this corridor strategy. However, the feedback provided will assist the department to prioritise projects and seek funding.

Due to the length of the corridor from Sorell to Launceston, the project team has split the corridor up into three segments to assist the community in providing feedback on the areas they’re interested in.

The segments are:

1. South (Sorell to Orford)

2. Central (Orford to St Helens

3. North (St Helens to Launceston)

Please refer to the map below.

What is this project about?

The Department of State Growth is developing a corridor strategy for the Tasman Highway between Sorell and Launceston which extends along Tasmania’s east coast. The strategy will identify opportunities for improvement to meet the expected future needs of road users and communities along the corridor. This may include the identification of safety issues, active and public transport opportunities, and investment opportunities.  Works and upgrades do not form part of this strategy, but the feedback will assist the department to prioritise projects and seek funding.

What is a corridor strategy?

Corridor strategies make planning and investment decisions transparent to the community, councils and other key stakeholders. By reviewing a variety of issues through public consultation, a corridor strategy identifies a range of different actions and priorities to improve the road corridor. The strategy process does not involve works or upgrades however the resulting recommendations may assist government in prioritising projects and seeking funding.

What are the benefits of this project?

The corridor strategy will help us understand how the community, visitors, businesses and road users use the road. This information can help us consider potential upgrades and improvements. As the resulting strategy is supported by research and findings, this helps to ensure that future projects are prioritised to undertake works where they’re needed the most.

Where is the Tasman Highway?

The Tasman Highway is a 410 km stretch of state road connecting Hobart to Launceston via the east coast. This project focuses on the section from Sorell to Launceston, which has a length of approximately 390 km and a travel time of over four hours.  The highway is an arterial road and is the main access road for townships including Orford, Triabunna, Swansea, Coles Bay, Bicheno, Scamander and St Helens. As it moves inland, it is the main access road for the townships of Derby and Scottsdale.

Why is the corridor strategy focusing on the Tasman Highway?

The highway has seen traffic increase due to growth in tourism, viticulture, and residential development.  To support the growth that is occurring, improvements to existing infrastructure is needed to keep locals and visitors safe and allow for all road users to be able to access the network safely.

Only the section from Sorell to Launceston of the corridor is forming part of this strategy due to the recent upgrades between Hobart and Sorell.

When will the project start/end?

The public consultation for the corridor strategy will commence on 15 April 2024 and run for approximately five weeks before closing on 20 May 2024.

I have recently been engaged to provide feedback along the Tasman Highway, so why am I being asked again and how is this different?

Recent projects along parts of the corridor include the Great Eastern Drive upgrades, Diana’s Basin to St Helens Point Road upgrades, Dorset Roads Package upgrades and the Sideling upgrades. These projects have all had their own opportunities for community feedback.

This strategy will build on these recent projects as well as previous and ongoing engagement with stakeholders from these projects.  The engagement for this corridor strategy invites stakeholders to make further submissions to strengthen ideas for improvement along the corridor and looks at a larger area than the specific localities where works have previously occurred.

Who is being asked for feedback?

The project team will be engaging with community, visitors, industry and government along the corridor from 15 April 2024 to 20 May 2024.  We look forward to receiving feedback from any interested people.

What funding is allocated to the project?

There has been no funding allocated to date to undertake works or upgrades along this road corridor.  The resulting strategy will result in recommendations that can be prioritised. These recommendations may then be relied upon to seek funding and to implement projects along the corridor.

What construction or road works are proposed?

No construction work is currently planned or underway as part of the development of the planning study.  Works and upgrades do not form part of this strategy, but the feedback will assist the department to prioritise projects and seek funding.

What is being done about public and active transport?

The strategy will consider issues around public and active transport and look at how we can improve safety and efficiency for those users of the corridor.  We want to hear from the community to understand if there are any opportunities for improvements to public transport such as buses and taxis, walkways, and cycle paths to encourage the use of these modes along the corridor.

Who can I contact if I have further questions or would like to provide feedback?

If you have any questions, please contact Connie Steers, Stakeholder Engagement Consultant or Christa Capel, Stakeholder Engagement Consultant (03) 6165 0443 or at sorelltolaunceston@stategrowth.tas.gov.au