Dec 2010. Thanks to a grant from Sport and Recreation Tasmania a new bridge will be constructed over Geilston Creek and a concrete cycleway will connect the new bridge to Musgrove Ave and Derwent Ave. This will provide a link from the Sugarloaf Rd path along Geilston Bay Rd to the Clarence Foreshore Trail and enable cyclists to avoid the East Derwent Hwy and signalised intersection at Derwent Ave. Click here to view map. Geilston Bay will become a starting location for riding the Clarence Foreshore Trail. A narrow rock-walled track has been constructed along the foreshore but will not be suitable for road bikes which will still need to detour along Derwent Ave. Fat tyre bikes are not restricted from the foreshore track provided they give way to walkers but due to the narrowness of the gravel track bikers are encouraged to use Derwent Ave. Work is expected to commence in January 2011.

Council commences work on Clarence Foreshore Trail gaps
Kangaroo Bay Boardwalk
June 2010. Back in November 2009 construction of the boardwalk and bridge across the Bellerive Yacht Club slipway commenced. It is now close to being completed with the bridge in place and the boardwalk constructed. Adjoining paving and seating has been installed and only minor works are left such as hand rails. It is expected to be officially opened in July or August.

The bridge is retractable and will be drawn back whenever a boat needs to use the slipway of the yacht club. When opened it will be a significant link in the foreshore trail. Currently users of the Clarence Foreshore Trail need to detour to Cambridge Rd to bypass the slipway. 

Tasman Bridge access at Riawena Rd gets green lane at Leprena St intersection.
Sept 2009. Several collisions and near-misses have been reported between bicycles accessing the Tasman Bridge from Riawena Rd and cars turning from Leprena St who fail to give way. Clarence Council has addressed this issue by increasing the visibility of cyclists by installing a green bike lane across the intersection and re-linemarking the give way line for drivers. To view a copy of the design drawings click here.

Clarence Foreshore Trail - new section constructed at Tranmere
July 2009. Council has commenced work on another section of the foreshore trail at Tranmere. The path will link to Pindos Park at the southern end and the bus turning circle at the northern end.

Tracks and Trails Action Plan
Sept 08. Council has released a draft Tracks and Trails Action Plan which identifies trails in the Meehan Range, Clarence Foreshore and Droughty Point which will be multi-use. To view the plan and provide feedback see Clarence Council website.

Kangaroo Bay Concept Plan
Jun 08. CyclingSouth made a submission on the plan, which will include a significant setction of the Clarence Foreshore Trail. Some of the issues identified by CyclingSouth include bicycle storage boxes at Bligh/Rosny Rd intersection; bike lanes incorporated into Kangaroo Bay Rd as both a traffic calming measure and better level of service for cyclists; careful design of shared paths to minimise conflict between users including adequate width and clearance from obstructions, appropriate alignment and elimination of squeeze or conflict points; and a cycle connection from proposed Clarence St bike lanes to the foreshore path via Cambridge Rd.

Mountain Bike Park Meeting - 6 February 2008
Jan 08. Anyone who is interested in plans for a mountain bike facility on Hobart's eastern shore should come along to a meeting on Wednesday 6 February at the Rosny library. The meeting will be held in meeting room 1 at 6.00pm. A plan of the proposed mtb park at Mornington will be presented and feedback will be sought from everyone who attends.

Tasman Bridge Access
Jan 08. Work has commenced on a new path to improve access to the Tasman Bridge from Lindisfarne. An embankment has been cut into to create space for a 2.2m wide shared path that links to the bridge and will allow cyclists exiting the bridge to remain on the path and avoid crossing Topham St where sightlines are poor. DIER has relocated the fence on the approach to the bridge to create more space.

For more progress on access to the Tasman Bridge see Southern Tas page.

Budget projects for 2007/08
The following projects have been budgeted for by Council:
- Path construction between Tasman Bridge and Topham St, Rose Bay
- Path construction along Grass Tree Hill Rd from Risdon Vale to Risdon Dam
- Path construction of section of Clarence Foreshore Trail at Tranmere

Sept 07. Clarence Council staff and members of the Tracks and Trails Committee have carried out preliminary investigations for identifying a suitable site for the park. Criteria for selecting a suitable location include appropriate site for constructing the park, accessibility for kids riding from urbanised areas, car parking and links from the park to other trails.

Clarence Council Bicycle Strategy Action Plan - Public Consultation
Sept 07. In 1995 Clarence Council adopted a Municipal Bicycle Plan. In 2007 the document was reviewed and an Action Plan was developed to prioritise projects for the next 5 years to assist council to implement projects.  The draft Plan will be placed on public exhibition until 28 September 2007. You are encouraged to provide feedback on the plan. Priorities include completing gaps in the Clarence Foreshore Trail and bike lanes on Clarence St.
See Clarence Council website to view the Action Plan.
 

Tasman Bridge access from Eastern Shore
July 07. The Clarence Council Bicycle Advisory Committee has examined options for improving cycle access to the bridge from the Eastern Shore, particularly for cyclists travelling from the Cambridge direction. The committee went on a bike ride with Council staff in May to identify route options and improvements and a plan will be drawn up by Clarence Council in order to approach DIER for funding to start work. The identified route will require construction of pathways to replace 'goat tracks' that have formed where people are already accessing the bridge along the verges of the Tasman Hwy, as well as some additional treatments.
Funding has also been allocated in the council budget for removing some of the embankment along Topham St to construct a walkway linking to the bridge access ramp. This will eliminate the need for pedestrians using Topham St to walk on the road and allow cyclists to stay on the path if they wish.


Council encourages staff to ride to work
June 07. Clarence City Council has installed a bicycle parking cage for staff. The cage is undercover by the back entrance to the council buildings in a visible and convenient location. Bike parking rails will be installed inside the cage in the near future. Provided in conjunction with showers and lockers, Council sets a good example for other employers to emulate.

Risdon Brook Dam to get new link path
May 07. A new path has been funded to connect Risdon Vale to Risdon Brook Dam and will be constructed in the new year. Member for Pembroke, Allison Ritchie, announced $250,000 government funding for the pathway which will be constructed alongside Grasstree Hill Road, with Clarence City Council contributing $50,000 and managing the project. The new walkway will join up to the existing walkway at Lantana Road and run for about a kilometre along Grasstree Hill Road as far as the roundabout on the East Derwent Highway.
 “The locals at Risdon Vale have been campaigning for more than ten years to have a path like this built,” Ms Ritchie said. “This will provide a wonderful addition to the Risdon Brook Dam area allowing people better access to a popular part of southern Tasmania. This is really a beautiful area and I hope this path will encourage more people to visit the dam and spend time here.”

Tasman Bridge access from Eastern Shore
May 07. The Clarence Bicycle Advisory Committee carried out a site visit in May to investigate options for improving access to and from the bridge for residents on the eastern shore. For more see Regional Projects page.

Clarence Foreshore Trail – Bellerive Bluff
April 07. A missing section in the foreshore trail is now complete around Bellerive Bluff along Victoria Esplanade from Cambridge Rd to Abbott St. The 2.2m wide concrete path provides a good quality surface for walkers and cyclists and completes another missing link in the foreshore trail. Further landscaping works will be carried out to prevent debris from being washed onto the path after rain.

Before	After

The shared pathway provides a link to the Kangaroo Bay Ferry Terminus, providing an option for residents to cycle to Bellerive and catch the ferry to Hobart. See Clarence Council website for ferry information.

New signage has also been installed at various locations along the Clarence Foreshore Trail between Geilston Bay and Howrah. The signs include distances to destinations.

Tranmere Path
April 07. Council has commenced construction of a 2m wide shared path along Tranmere Road from Pindos Drive to Cohuna Street. This path will complete a missing link in footpaths in the area and will hopefully eventually link up with the Foreshore Trail in Howrah.

Clarence Plains Transport Study
April 07. GHD Consultants have been engaged by DIER to look at options for improving traffic movements around Rokeby and Clarendon Vale. CyclingSouth attended a briefing for community representatives and gave feedback on a preferred option which would best serve cycling movements through the area. We recommended an upgraded Rokeby Rd with designated bike lanes and signalisation at intersections. See Feedback to view CyclingSouth’s submission to GHD.