Tannery Rd traffic solution sought

Northern Midlands Council has called for a united approach to resolve a potential traffic hazard at the entrance to a planned Lowes Petroleum 24-hour unmanned fuel station. 

Traffic congestion is already common on this section of Tannery Rd at the northern end of town, due to vehicles turning right to access several businesses including the JBS meatworks, Swift Meats and Koppers, and many locals fear the situation will be made worse.

NMC Mayor Mary Knowles said today that in Council’s view there was a need for a right-hand turning lane across Tannery Road to access the planned fuel station site to allow vehicles to safely pass turning trucks and cars.

At the recent council meeting the Council voted to step up pressure on State Growth to address this and several other safety issues on State Growth roads.

This prompted a reaction from Infrastructure minister Michael Ferguson who said the Council was trying to shift blame, and if the Council had followed its own planning advice and approved the development initially, a works permit would have been issued for a turning lane to alleviate the issue.

Council had originally refused to grant planning approval to the development due to road safety concerns. 

“Our legal advice was that Council’s only feasible grounds for refusal under the Tasmanian Planning Scheme related to traffic generation at the new vehicle crossing,” Mayor Knowles said. 

The proponent then appealed Council’s refusal of the development on these grounds to the tribunal (TASCAT). 

Mayor Knowles said that during the consequent appeals process the Department of State Growth (being the road authority for Tannery Road), on April 17, 2024, provided written consent under a provision of the Tasmanian Planning Scheme for the new vehicle crossing without the need for a right-hand turning lane. 

“The department’s decision as road authority to provide consent for the vehicle crossing removed our only feasible grounds to pursue a refusal of the development application under the Tasmanian Planning Scheme. 

“Therefore, we had no choice except to issue a permit and avoid a lengthy legal case that had little or no chance of success, and at further cost to ratepayers,” Mayor Knowles said. 

Mayor Knowles said while the Minister acknowledged that the department had originally accepted the recommendation of a Council-commissioned Traffic Impact Assessment for a right turn lane, he did not explain why that requirement was not included in the department’s written consent for the new vehicle crossing given under a provision of the Tasmanian Planning Scheme. 

She said that rather than bicker over the matter, it was Council’s preference for all parties to meet to find a solution to the potential traffic safety issue before it became a problem. 

“Council wrote to the Minister in July seeking a meeting to discuss road concerns including Tannery Road, the condition of Illawarra Road and the need for bike paths; we believe this would be a more positive way to address these issues,” she said.