Legislative Council Wednesday 24 June, 2020
Ms FORREST question to LEADER of the GOVERNMENT in the LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, Mrs HISCUTT

With regard to the Stanley Highway (B21) from the junction with the Bass Highway into Stanley;

1. Is the Minister for Infrastructure aware of a high seasonal use of this road;
2. Is the Minister for Infrastructure aware of the narrowness of the road, lack of sealed shoulders and unsafe camber of the road in many sections; and
3. Is the Minister for Infrastructure aware of regular vehicle crashes occurring on this section of road?

4. With regard to economic stimulus funding:
a. Will this section of the Stanley Highway be included as an infrastructure project under the economic stimulus funding to upgrade this road and address the above safety issues?

ANSWER:
The town of Stanley is a popular tourism location within Tasmania for both local and visiting tourists with an average annual daily traffic volume of around 1570 vehicles per day.
Over the last 10 years there has been an average of about two reported crashes per year. The highway is inspected on a weekly basis as part of the Road Maintenance program and issues such as formed potholes, vegetation obstructions, edge breaks, removal of road kill and any other safety issues are rectified.
The Stanley Highway was last resealed in 2013 and line marking of the highway was undertaken in late 2019.
An upgrade of the Stanley Highway is not currently programmed within the current program of works on the State road network. The Stanley Highway currently provides a level of service that corresponds to its existing level of demand.