Clarence City Council is demanding answers on long-term traffic solutions for Hobart’s increasingly congested eastern shore, passing a motion calling for the release of a suppressed feasibility report.
The council unanimously backed Councillor Tony Mulder’s motion requesting the Department of State Growth (DSG) to release its full report on the proposed Flagstaff Gully Link Road.
The Eastern Ring Road concept dates back to 1995 when Ratio Consultants conducted the first formal study exploring four possible routes.
The most favoured option would connect to the East Derwent Highway between Geilston Bay and Risdon Vale, though initial assessments raised concerns about ecological and heritage impacts.
The proposal gained momentum in 2005 when then-Alderman Doug Chipman campaigned for the project, arguing that while “a Flagstaff Gully Link road may not be necessary right now, it probably will be in the next decade.”
By 2007, Clarence City Council had formally backed the proposal but faced resistance from the state government, which viewed it as a council responsibility.
Current Mayor Brendan Blomeley now says eastern shore residents are being left behind on transport planning despite mounting traffic pressures.
“We’ve seen report after report identify the eastern shore as a pressure point, yet viable projects like the Flagstaff Gully Link Road are being dismissed without full transparency,” Blomeley said.
The council motion highlighted growing concerns over worsening congestion on routes feeding into the Tasman Bridge and the lack of viable connections between the Tasman Highway and Bowen Bridge.
Council say traffic is increasingly diverting to “unsafe” alternatives like Grasstree Hill and Brinktop Roads, while suburban streets including Gordons Hill Road face rising congestion levels.
“The Tasman Bridge is under immense pressure, and yet there is no public plan for how we respond if it fails or becomes unusable,” Blomeley said.
The 60-year-old bridge’s potential replacement should already be in planning stages, according to the council, which pointed to the lengthy timeline from concept to completion demonstrated by the Bridgewater Bridge project.
Council documents cite the Ratio Report which shows the Flagstaff Gully Link Road could deliver up to $3.50 return for every dollar invested.
The projected return is significantly higher than other major road projects in Tasmania. The new Bridgewater Bridge will deliver 53 cents in benefits for every dollar spent.
“We’re not asking for favours – we’re asking for fair consideration and the data to back the Department’s decisions,” Blomeley said.
The council is also seeking updates on other long-delayed infrastructure projects including the South Arm Highway realignment and a proposed Brighton to Cambridge freight link.
“What we really need is a 20-year plan for improved connectivity between the rapidly growing municipalities of Brighton, Clarence and Sorell,” Blomeley said.
Pulse has contacted the Department of State Growth for comment.
