Lyell Highway upgrade - Granton to Strahan

Community consultation

Our project team engaged with community, visitors, industry and government along the corridor over a five-week period from Monday, 14 October 2024 to Monday, 18 November 2024.

We heard ideas and feedback about the corridor to help prepare the strategy. The project team is currently reviewing the feedback, and is preparing a consultation and feedback report, which will be shared on this web page in 2025.

What is this project?

The Department of State Growth is developing a corridor strategy for the Lyell Highway which extends from Granton in southern Tasmanian to Strahan on the West Coast.

The Lyell Highway is a key route for Tasmanian’s and links key communities such as New Norfolk, Hamilton, Ouse, Tarraleah, Derwent Bridge, Queenstown and Strahan. The strategy will use your feedback to determine ways to improve the highway in the future and meet the growing needs of road users.

Where is the Lyell Highway?

The Lyell Highway starts at the southern end of the existing Bridgewater Bridge in Granton and then travels northwest for 285 kilometres before ending in Strahan on the West Coast.

The Lyell Highway is the main access road for communities in the Derwent Valley, Central Highlands and West Coast areas, including New Norfolk, Ouse, Derwent Bridge, Queenstown and Strahan.

Why the Lyell Highway?

Traffic on the highway is continually changing due to tourism, industry operations, and residential development along the corridor. This highway is a key link for Tasmanian communities and visitors and it’s important that it is developed strategically into the future.

What is a corridor strategy?

A corridor strategy is a plan to inform government decision making and to create consistency in how the State road network is managed. The strategy will identify a range of different actions and priorities to improve the road, and includes an assessment of climate change impacts to build resilience across our road network in the region.

The process does not involve physical work or upgrades, however the resulting strategy will assist government in prioritising where to spend existing funding committed along the corridor, and in seeking funding for future priority road projects identified.

What am I providing feedback on?

We want to hear your ideas and suggestions about how we can improve the Lyell Highway. This might include ideas for road upgrades to improve the road condition, road safety features, or facilities that are connected to the road.

During the public consultation period we will have a range of online and in-person activities which you can engage in to provide your feedback. You can speak to us on the phone, via email or attend a pop-up session. If you prefer to do things online, you can complete the survey or the interactive map.

Feedback on the project can be provided on specific locations, or multiple locations, depending on your interest.

What funding is allocated to the project?

The Australian and Tasmanian Governments have committed a combined $100 million to increase the capacity of the Lyell Highway between Granton and New Norfolk. Currently, this is the only funding allocated for the entire Lyell Highway.

The strategy will result in a range of recommendations that can be prioritised. These recommendations may then be used to seek further funding and to implement projects along the highway

What road works are proposed?

There will be no road work as a part of this stage of the corridor strategy development project.

How does this project relate to the proposed upgrades between Granton and New Norfolk?

The Australian and Tasmanian Governments have committed a combined $100 million to increase the capacity of the Lyell Highway between Granton and New Norfolk, along with other road improvements.

This commitment is separate from the development of this broader strategy along the highway corridor, however, the strategy will help inform the road improvements that are made with this funding. You can provide feedback on this section of road during this consultation.

How does this project relate to the recent upgrades between Queenstown and Strahan?

The department recently upgraded the Lyell Highway between Queenstown and Strahan. The design and construction process for that work had its own consultation period and you can find out about this project at the Transport Services webpage here.

If you have feedback about this section of the Lyell Highway, you can tell us as part of this consultation process.

Will this project consider the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area?

This Lyell Highway passes through the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area which is a significant landscape with highly sensitive natural and cultural values. We will be consulting directly with key stakeholders and interest groups to ensure feedback on this section of the highway is received and considered. Any future upgrades identified within this area will be specifically designed and constructed to minimise the impact on this important environment.

Will there be improvements to public transport?

The strategy will consider public transport services and infrastructure and look at how we can improve safety and efficiency along the corridor. We want to hear from the community to understand any improvements that will encourage the use of public transport along the highway.

Will this project consider cycling and other active transport?

We will be seeking feedback from the community and road users to understand the demand for improved active transport along the corridor. Active transport includes walking, cycling, scooting and other similar forms of transport.

We want to understand how you use the highway and where there are potential opportunities to provide better access and an improved experience for active transport users.

Will this project consider ways to reduce roadkill?

We will be seeking feedback to understand if there are sections of the road or certain designs of the road that contribute to an increase in wildlife accidents and roadkill. We will be consulting with wildlife and natural conservation experts to understand how the road can be improved to reduce roadkill.

Why are we doing this project?

The project will help us understand how the community, visitors, industries and businesses use the road which 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.

What will happen with my feedback?

We will use the feedback we receive to help identify and prioritise improvements in the corridor strategy. A short report providing an overview of the public consultation activities and what we heard will be made available on our website by early 2025.  It is anticipated that the corridor strategy will be finished by late 2025.

Who is being asked for feedback?

We will talk with a broad range of stakeholders that use the Lyell Highway, including.

local residents, community groups, businesses, government organisations, environmental groups, aboriginal organisations, motorcycle riders, cyclists, and visitors. We will also be seeking feedback from industries such as freight, mining, forestry, hydroelectricity, renewable energy, agriculture, aquaculture and tourism.

How can I provide feedback or ask questions?

Anyone can provide feedback either via phone, email, face to face or online.

You can contact Connie Steers, Stakeholder Engagement Consultant or Christa Capel, Stakeholder Engagement Consultant by phone on (03) 6165 0443 or by email at LyellHighwayStrategy@stategrowth.tas.gov.au.

You can provide feedback online by accessing the survey and interactive map by visiting https://engage.stategrowth.tas.gov.au/lyell-highway-corridor-strategy.

To provide feedback face to face you can come along to an in-person session. There will be five in-person sessions along the corridor at the locations, dates and times outlined in the table below.

Come along to an in-person consultation session