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Moves to extend Coastal Pathway to Stanley but no MTB trails

Construction of the Coastal Pathway between Wynyard and Burnie is yet to begin but the council is already looking to the future.

Waratah–Wynyard Council has given the go ahead to investigating a 73 km extension of the Coastal Pathway to Stanley at its April meeting.

The council has voted to progress the idea with a workshop and talks with Circular Head Council.

While the Waratah–Wynyard major Robby Walsh said such a path would be a “mammoth task”, Circular Head mayor Daryl Quilliam was more optimistic: “We’ve always supported [the pathway] between Wynyard and Latrobe, and we always said that after that is pretty close to completion, we would like to see that continued to go to our district.”

In making the decision to pursue the pathway extension, the council also decided to put a hold on a proposal to build mountain bike trails at 7 locations across the municipality.

Main image: Wikimedia Commons

Margate–Huntingfield path investigations begin
Fantastic news that investigations started last week on where a Margate to Huntingfield shared path could go.
 
The Tasmanian Government and Kingborough Council are working together to plan a route, looking at the possibilities alongside the Channel Highway or using the edges of Peter Murrell Reserve.
 
Once they identify what's possible they will put a route out for public comment. Thanks to Kingborough Bicycle Users Group for letting us know about the start of work!
Upper house vote Saturday 7 May

If you live in the Legislative Council electorates of Elwick (northern Hobart), Huon or McIntyre (midlands and east coast) don’t forget to vote this Saturday 7 May.

We asked candidates in the election to sign on to our Safer Cycling Pledge – you can see who has signed on and their comments at www.bicyclenetwork.com.au/our-campaigns/votebike-tas-legislativecouncil2022/

Zoom into active transport forum

This will be a great forum to zoom into if you are interested in how we get more people using bikes and buses to get around Tasmania: Rethinking Transport for Recovery, Resilience and Health.

There will be speakers from Sydney and Melbourne talking about how the pandemic gave them the chance to roll out bike lanes faster than normal and to trial “pop up” bike lanes, as well as our own Dr Verity Cleland talking about public transport and a recording from renowned expert Professor Jim Sallis.

The forum is being run by the Menzies Institute and Tasmanian Active Living Coalition (which we are a member of!)

Register at: https://utas.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_sYSzptiAQq29wY4y91rgtA

Derby camping payment machines installed

Dorset Council has installed camping payment machines at the Derby campground, with nightly permits costing $20.

Camping payment is not compulsory at this stage, rather the council is encouraging campers to pay to help contribute to the maintenance of the trails.  

Ridgley Highway consultation looking at cycling issues

The Department of State Growth are conducting a corridor study into the Ridgley Highway from Burnie to the intersection of Murchison Highway.

You can make a comment via the online map and see what other people are saying. There are already a few comments about the need to widen the narrow sealed shoulders to 1.5 metres to allow for bike riders.

The map is open for comment until Sunday 8 May: https://stategrowthtas.mysocialpinpoint.com/ridgley-highway-corridor-strategy#/