7 July 2004
Mr Brent Armstrong,
General Manager,
Hobart City Council,
G.P.O. Box 503,
Hobart, Tas. 7001
Dear Sir,
Proposed Bicentennial Tramway
The Tasmanian Fishing Industry Council has serious concerns about any proposal to construct a tramway with tracks and overhead cables close to or alongside Victoria Dock, Hobart.
We note comments in today’s Mercury newspaper that Aldermen have called for yet another report on the tramway and specifically for a proposed route from Elizabeth Mall to Hunter Street.
We remain firmly of the view that the tramway should not be routed through the restricted
narrow corridor between Davey Street and Victoria Dock because of safety concerns and the congestion that will occur.
For your information we have a written understanding with the Hobart Ports Corporation regarding the activities of fishing related vehicles and fishing vessels in the area of Victoria Dock. This arrangement is operating satisfactorily and has been in place for many years.
Victoria Dock area is used by commercial fisherman to berth their vessels, for unloading and maintenance and in order to service and replenish fuel and provisions. There are currently around 60 boats that use this area mostly for the purposes of fishing rock lobster, abalone, shark and trevalla. The fishermen pay a vessel fee either on a daily or yearly basis to the Hobart Ports Corporation.
The areas main operational times are throughout daylight hours but the dock bridge is open to the fisherman 24 hours per day subject to reasonable notice.
THE TRAMWAY
Having viewed the latest modified plan displayed by the Hobart City Council relating to the Sullivans Cove tramway we are concerned about the safety aspects of the design and proposed route of the tramway as it may impact on our commercial fishermen members and their service vehicle operators.
VEHICULAR ACCESS
We are particularly concerned about the area between Davey Street and Victoria Dock and the approaches to this area including –
• the 2.8m vehicle parking area bordering Davey Street for vehicles that service the commercial fishing fleet and particularly for vessels berthed at the two finger piers. Vehicles can approach these parking areas from either end i.e. from the Davey Street/Mure’s carpark or the Hunter Street end;
• the 3.6m tram easement, and
• the 2.6m shared access area which borders on Victoria Dock and which will include power poles, rubbish containers etc.
Under the current proposal the area between Davey Street and Victoria Dock will be used by vehicles, trams, pedestrians as well as cyclists and wheel chairs etc. all travelling in either direction in an area proposed at 9m in width with an immediate drop off to Victoria Dock.
The obvious conflicts in this multiple purpose area would be accentuated when the Victoria Dock bridge is closed as this narrow corridor is the alternate access for emergency vehicles.
SAFETY CONCERNS
The specific safety concerns we have are –
• the need for fishing related vehicles to travel along the tram easement from either end to access designated parking spots with the possibility of meeting a tram travelling in either direction;
• parking areas will be restricted more than at present by the placement of overhead power poles for the tram;
• the very close proximity of where these vehicles park to the tram easement. Vehicle operators could very easily open vehicle doors or step from their vehicles into the path of a tram coming from either direction. I understand the maximum tram speed is 20kph and the trams could travel along this track up to perhaps 48 times per day if only one tram is used;
• vessel refuelling vehicles and unloading of catch will still require use of the pedestrian access area which will force pedestrians to use the tram easement section;
• additionally the shared access (pedestrian) area at a width of 2.6 metres does not provide a sufficient space for refueling vehicles and trucks. The only way they can continue to service the fishing fleet will be to encroach onto the tram easement holding up trams for considerable periods of time;
• the service vehicle parking area is to be located directly alongside the narrowed Davey Street frontage which caters for a very high volume of vehicles, and
• the access to Mure’s carpark from Davey Street where vehicles will be held up at times in Davey Street whilst a tram passes through this area. Presumably the tram will not give way to vehicles or pedestrians.
PARKING SPACES
In any assessment of the proposed tram route we certainly would not support and would most actively oppose any loss of valuable parking spaces which are essential for the efficient servicing of the fishing fleet.
CONCLUSION
Any tramway proposition adjacent to Victoria dock will impinge on the existing use of this area which has been available to service fishing vessels in Victoria Dock for the last 180+ years. The proposed tramway is not an appropriate activity for this area and should be relocated away from this narrow corridor if it is a viable project.
We ask for your personal intervention in this matter to ensure that the tramway route is relocated away from the Davey Street-Victoria Dock narrow corridor.
Yours sincerely,
R.K. LISTER
Chief Executive