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Man rides along Collins Street in Hobart with a sandstone building and trees in the background.
$2m Hobart cycling funding rolls out

The Tasmanian Government has announced the first successful projects in its $2 million Better Active Transport in Greater Hobart grant program for local councils.

The funding was announced in the 2018 election campaign but was held up by the development of a Greater Hobart Cycling Plan.

Now the cycling plan has been ticked off by councils and the state government, it is providing a blueprint for funding.

The projects that have secured funding in the first round include:

Summerleas Road underpass

Kingborough Council has received $750,000 to building an underpass under Summerleas Road along the Whitewater Creek Track. The underpass will allow people to ride, walk or scoot between Kingston town Centre and Huntingfield without having to cross a road. Designs for the underpass are being finalised, but work is needed to acquire land and protect large trees.

Main Road Granton shared path

Glenorchy Council will receive $250,000 to extend the footpath along Main Road in Granton to meet the shared paths that will come off the new Bridgewater Bridge in 2024. The path will be 2.5 metres wide and fill a gap in the network so people can move over the bridge without having to ride on the road.

Tasman Highway shared path design

Clarence Council will receive $40,000 to develop designs for a shared path along the Tasman Highway to fill the missing link between the existing shared path past the City View Motel to meet the Rosny Hill Road shared path. A new shared path would ideally stay at a higher level than the current path to reduce gradients for riders.

Collins Street design

Hobart Council will receive $30,000 for designs for a cycleway plan for Collins Street.

This leaves $930,000 in the fund for future projects, the second round is due to open later this year.

The $8.8 million statewide Better Active Transport in Tasmania grant program for local councils has opened for applications for the 2023–24 year – the leftover money from the 2018 fund will be added to the $6 million promised at the 2021 election. The first round closes on 28 August and a second round will be offered in 2024–25.

Unlike previous rounds, which were confined to state government owned roads, this time proposals for projects on local roads will be accepted.