Cash pledge for cycling track’s ‘missing link’

I think anything that gets you away from the city centre is a good idea. It would be awesome to get the bike track run through there. — CYCLIST IVAN DAVIS

THE Hobart City Council will provide $400,000 to link the Intercity Cycleway to Macquarie Point.

Part of the masterplan for the “once in a generation” development is to extend the cycling track from the Regatta Grounds through Macquarie Point to Evans St.

The cycleway through Mac Point would form a key part of the site, which is planned to become the home of a National Truth and Reconciliation Art Park.

Hobart aldermen voted last night to spend $400,000 to construct the 400m cycleway extension from McVilly Drive to the boundary of the Mac Point development.

The Macquarie Point Development Corporation will build the bike path through the site, which will be 600m long.

Hobart alderman Jeff Briscoe said it was the last piece of the puzzle for the cycleway.

“Everyone dreamt that it would be done,” he said.

“It will enable members of the public to walk and cycle to the site, it’s the missing link.”

Chairman of the Hobart Bicycle Advisory Committee Ald Philip Cocker said the money would be put aside until the Macquarie Point Corporation was in a position to lodge a development application.

“It was felt that we could not be a part of it,” he said.

Ald Helen Burnet said while it was a big leap of faith pledging the $400,000, it was an important project to unlock the potential of Macquarie Point.

Hobart Deputy Mayor Ron Christie, who along with Ald Eva Ruzicka voted against the motion, said he wanted to see finished plans before the council committed $400,000.

“My main concern is that it comes to Evans St and it stops,” he said.

“At the moment we are approving a $400,000 cycleway that ends at Evans St.”

But despite Ald Christie’s objections the motion was passed.

The move has a fan in cyclist Ivan Davis, who said it would be a welcome addition to his rides into the city.

“I think anything that gets you away from the city centre is a good idea,” he said.

“It would be awesome to get the bike track run through there.”