Tasman Highway Corridor Strategy

The community consultation has closed. Thank you to everyone who provided feedback on our online map, completed the survey, and viewed the public displays. Your ideas will help us plan this strategy.

You can see the comments added to our Social PinPoint map here.

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.

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 invited 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.

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.

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