Latrobe Council has released a draft plan to improve its town centre which includes cycling connections between the Coastal Pathway and Wild Mersey mountain bike trails.
The Coastal Pathway currently starts on the edge of town at the end of Bells Parade. The council has already realised its worth and are extending the sealed path through to the car park for a better user experience.
The draft plan has been based on community consultation which identified the strengths and weaknesses of the current town centre, and which identified the need for better cycling connections.
Lower speeds along Gilbert Street which cuts through the centre of the town is identified as helping people walking and riding. This would be achieved by installing raised pedestrian crossings which slow traffic, a reduced speed limit of 40km/h and the often cyclist-unfriendly “kerb blisters” to narrow traffic lanes.
The plan recognises that a better connection to the Wild Mersey trailhead at Warrawee about 3.5km from the town centre would help tourists and locals get between the trails and town.
It suggests formalizing the route along Hamilton Street and Shale Road to “improve safety and connectivity and complete this key missing link”.
To get to this route from the town centre the plan suggests creating a route along Last Street West and Victor Street to get to Hamilton Street that would include a dedicated cycle crossing at the corner of Gilbert and Victor streets.
More bike parking would be provided along the route and close to the local bike shops and cafes.
While the plan identifies the suggested routes for cycling facilities it doesn’t talk about what these could look like.
Providing bike paths/separation from traffic will be key to getting people feeling comfortable to ride in and out of the town centre from either the Coastal Pathway or Wild Mersey trails.
Last Street West is a very quiet, no-through street that could be connected to Victor street via a path through green open space. Once on Victor Street there’s scope to create an off-road path and then a gravel path along Hamilton Street into Shale Road.
Comments on the plan are being accepted via email council@latrobe.tas.gov.au before 29 April and the plan can be downloaded from the council website at https://www.latrobe.tas.gov.au/notice-board/latest-news/latrobe-town-centre-enhancement-draft-structure-plan
Main image: Roger Nichols