No joy for Lakes Rd improvements

THE State Government was continuing to ignore the potential of the Highland Lakes Rd, Western Tiers MLC Greg Hall said yesterday. Mr Hall said sealing the road was a good alternative to the controversial Tarkine Road project in the north-west. Originally called the Lake Highway, the Highland Lakes Rd is a partially sealed route linking Bothwell and Deloraine via the central plateau.

"I have formally written to the Tasmanian Government submitting the case for embracing sealing of the [road]  an alternative to the Tarkine Rd project," Mr Hall said. “My letter to the Minister for Infrastructure requested that an appropriate portion of the $23 million allocated in the State Budget for the Tarkine Rd be reallocated to progressively seal the Lake Secondary Rd."

Mr Hall said the idea had strong community support and the sealing of this road through the heart of Tasmania was decades overdue. "This would offer a viable alternative north-south route to the Midlands Highway from the north-west of the state,” he said.

Mr Hall said about 18km of the lakes road was still gravel, from the northern end of Great Lake down to Miena. "This should be sealed in the interests of safety and promoting tourism. The Haulage Hill section of the road can be particularly treacherous in poor weather needs to be sealed as a priority."

"It should not be forgotten that apart from the huge tourism potential, including further tapping into the iconic recreational fishing opportunities, there are also many more people living permanently in the Great Lake area than ever before and there is significant seasonal traffic for families visiting holiday shacks. I have been banging this drum since 2004."

The Highland Lakes Rd (below)