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Man rides along the Channel Highway in Taroona on a narrow painted lane wearing a backpack with yellow cover.
Government issues $3m in cycling path grants

The Tasmanian Government has announced more than $3 million in grants for projects throughout the state as part of Round 1 of its Better Active Transport grants.

The $6 million grant program aims to fund local councils to provide All Ages and Abilities cycling infrastructure with a transport focus. All Ages and Abilities infrastructure is typically separated from traffic or located on low-speed, low-traffic streets.

The successful projects in this round include:

  • Clarence City Council, $140,000 – widening and re-sealing sections of the Foreshore Trail.
  • Devonport City Council, $1.27 million – a new shared path to connect Quoiba to Spreyton.
  • George Town Council, $388,200 – widening and sealing a section of the Kanamaluka Trail between George Town and Low Head.
  • Kingborough Council, $350,000 – widening sections of the on-road bike lanes on Channel Highway through Taroona.
  • Launceston City Council, $260,000 – a new shared path along Forster Street between the River Tamar and the East Tamar Highway.
  • Northern Midlands Council, $436,500 – a new shared path along Hobart Road between Youngtown and the existing path in Breadalbane.
  • Southern Midlands Council, $370,000 – a new shared path along the Midland Highway in Bagdad to connect to the new Community Centre.
  • Waratah–Wynyard Council, $192,000 – feasibility study into extending the Coastal Pathway from Wynyard to Smithton and Stanley.

Announcing the successful projects, Minister for Transport, Michael Ferguson, said: “Our Greater Hobart Grant Program will help with the implementation of the Greater Hobart Cycling Plan and our statewide Grant Program will assist councils in delivering key cycling infrastructure, such as the North West Coastal Pathway.

“The more choice we build into our transport infrastructure, the more we can help reduce traffic congestion and vehicle operating costs, improving health and the environment.

“These investments align with the recently released long-term transport masterplan for Hobart, Keeping Hobart Moving.

“It utilises our river, roads and bridges – and more cycleways – to provide commuters with an attractive, alternative to private-car use.”

Round 2 of the Better Active Transport grant program is open. Submissions are due before January 2024.