Road takeovers mulled

Hidding grilled over possible grab of Macquarie, Davey streets

MAJOR thoroughfares Macquarie and Davey streets could be taken over by the State Government in a bid to ease Hobart’s traffic congestion.

Infrastructure Minister Rene Hidding acknowledged the possibility of the state acquiring the two roads under questioning from Greens leader Cassy O’Connor.

Ms O’Connor, speaking at yesterday’s Metro Government Business Enterprise hearing, compared the idea to the Government’s recent takeover of land on kunanyi/Mt Wellington for a cable car.

Mr Hidding did not rule out legislating to acquire the roads if he remains as minister after next year’s state election, but he indicated that powers to acquire the roads may already exist.

Mr Hidding said it should not be necessary for the Government to forcibly take over the roads but “if it becomes necessary it becomes necessary”.

However, he later said the Government was focused on working positively with the Hobart City Council to improve traffic flow on the roads.

The Hobart Congestion Traffic Analysis 2016 recommended changes to Macquarie and Davey streets to ease traffic but the council has not enacted them all.

The Government could create fixes, such as adding clearways and opening carpool and bus lanes, if it owned the roads, which Mr Hidding said were important to the entire region.

Ms O’Connor questioned Mr Hidding about minutes from a city council meeting in the middle of last year. The minutes indicated Mr Hidding had advised the council that the transfer of the Macquarie and Davey streets was no longer being pursued.

Mr Hidding yesterday said the Government had not been “winning the argument” about ownership of the roads with the council.

“There were a number of councillors who didn't want to give up the two busiest roads in Tasmania,” he said.

The council in July asked for a report on the advantages and disadvantages of keeping control of the roads. The report is due back early next year.