18 replies to this topic

[Mystic]

People planning to travel the Western Explorer road should be aware that the road has been closed until further notice.

The Department of Infrastructure, Energy and Resources issued a media release recently stating:

Western Explorer Rd Closed Due to Safety Concerns

The Western Explorer Road on the West Coast has been closed indefinitely due to safety concerns.



Although the road was briefly reopened after a recent large bushfire in the area, contractors on the spot have advised that it is unsafe for travel.



A combination of fallen trees, burnt guideposts and signposts has made the road potentially hazardous for travellers.



A detailed inspection of the road will be done over the next few days.

The road will be reopened only when it is safe to do so.

We hope that the road will be open once again soon, despite rediculous claims by Greens Senators that it should be closed permanently and converted to a walking and cycling track.

[Mystic]

the following media release has been released today...

DEPARTMENT OF INFRASTRUCTURE, ENERGY AND RESOURCES

Western Explorer Road


The Western Explorer Road on the West Coast is likely to remain closed for up to two months in the aftermath of the recent large bushfire in the area.

Forestry Tasmania is preparing for the removal of around 2,000 tonnes of burnt-out trees that are considered hazardous.

It is estimated that tree clearing operations will begin soon.

Indications are that the road will remain closed for around three weeks while clearing is underway.

Once clearing is completed, the Department of Infrastructure, Energy and Resources (DIER) will then have to assess the state of the road surface and repair it where necessary.

The road will therefore remain closed to all traffic until further notice.

So, it seems there is no rush to reopen this road to the puiblic in the near future.

[Hummingbird291]

That doesnt sound like good news to me Anna, wonder what the chances are that they will close this road for good?

[Mystic]

That is one of my fears Nett. The Greens are pushing for the road to be closed full time to traffic. Might do some further investigating on this one.

[flyfisher]

I drove the Western Explorer in 2005 and found it a very interesting trip.
The road itself was in reasonable condition, quite safe [as most roads are --only drivers are a problem e.g.
Montezuma Falls--- rough as -uts but fun]
The views were just stunning .
I am normally quite green in my views ,but I wouldn't like to see this road closed.
Nor would I like to see a maze of other roads coming off it, to be used for .....
Cheers Fly Fisher

[Mystic]

The North West Advocate yesterday reported that there is still no indication as to when the explorer is likely to reopen. The contracts for the removal of "dangerous" logs and trees has still not been finalised, though that is due in the next couple of weeks. The DIER states that it cannot get in to assess road surface damage until after that work has been completed, and cannot advise when the road is likely to be reopened.

The business and tourism operations at Corrina have been devastated by the closure, and have said that if the road is not open in the next 6 months they will be forced out of business.

Personally, I think the delays that have been seen in repairing this road and reopening it to the public are ridiculous. The road may be controversial as far as the Greens are concerned, but it is a very popular route, and needs to be reopened as soon as possible.

[Hummingbird291]

I think it would be an utter shame to let a road like the Western Explorer remain closed, the landscape and coast that is opened up by this road is amazing, by shutting the road off, your encouraging those who want to see this area to use illegal or unsafe roads to access it, as well as limiting it to a select few, like i once read if you owned a beautiful jewel would you put it in a safety deposit box to collect dust and only be seen by you, or would you rather have it out on display, where it can be admired by many. Once again a rowdy few spoil it for the rest of us. Dont let another tassie jewel be put away.

[Mystic]

I like your analogy Nett, and the points you make also. That is fantastic country along the road, and vastly different to the rest of the state also. Even the buttongrass plains create an awesome vista up there.

The Greens want to see the road closed and turned into what they call "a high class walking and bicycle track", which they compare to the Overland Track. This will restrict the area to the young, healthy and wealthy. Currently a 5 day guided trek through the Tarkine costs around $1600 per person. I imagine fees for guided Explorer treks would be around the same, if not more. With the road public and open it is accessible to all people regardless of ability and wealth, (even with Tasmania paying high prices for fuel, the trip remains affordable).

The Greens claim the road is not widely used and that having traffic through that area is asking for disaster, pointing to the recent fires as a prime example. The road is becoming much more popular and is used more than many other roads elsewhere in the state. If their argument is to be accepted, then we had best be closing the road through the World Heritage Area as it has a thousand times more traffic, making it at least a thousand times more likely there will be an accident causing destruction of the area. To use an argument that states traffic through the Explorer route creates hazards that could lead to the destruction of the area, and then attempt to use that claim to close the road is ridiculous.

There is definitely a go slow on the work required to reopen this road, and one can only wonder at what underlying politics are influencing the situation. It will be a shame if the road remains closed.

[nineteenineteen]

"...23 million will be spent over four years to build a tourist road through the Tarkine wilderness area in North-West Tasmania. "

Quote from the Mercury website about the latest budget. Not sure whether this is a new road or works for the existing roads. Either way they need to clean up the Western Explorer first!

I would assume it's tied to the existing roads - I would think between the Waratah-Corinna, Southern Arthur Forests, Western Explorer, and Reece Dam-Rosebery (not sure what it's called) Roads, they'd have enough of that area covered already. I wouldn't think there is any need to build a new one...

[Hummingbird291]

If i understand correctly 19, the tarkine road is the section of road from Smithton to Arthur River, while the western explorer runs from arthur river to corinna, so this money is to be spent on the first part of the road, fingers crossed im wrong though and they are fixing up the road the whole way through, would be a definite benefit to the west coast, and tasmanian tourism as a whole.

[Mystic]

Thanks for the info 1919. Was watching the ABC news earlier tonight and I am getting the impression that the money is to be allocated for a new road through the Tarkine, subject to a 12 month discussion procedure. Might put a couple of emails together to relevant people next week and see what more can be discovered. Peg Putt (Greens) was objecting that this road would be cutting into pristine wilderness, so this does not sound like a simple revamp of the Western Explorer.

[Mystic]

The Premier was quoted yesterday as saying:

"There is action afoot on the Western Explorer and I have had talks with both the infrastructure and parks minister this morning,"

I have since emailed him, asking for a clarification on the statement and further details of a likely reopening date. Hopefully he will respond with more information.

[Mystic]

The following media release was issued by Parks & Wildlife earlier today

The Western Explorer Rd on the West Coast remains closed as work begins on the removal of burnt trees that have been classified as dangerous.

The trees were burnt in a large bushfire in the Savage River area in March.

Parks and Wildlife Service general manager Peter Mooney said that approximately 1000 trees will be removed on the advice of an arborist.

?Forestry Tasmania has been engaged to supervise the removal of the dangerous trees in accordance with an approved environmental assessment,? Mr Mooney said.

?The removal of this hazard will allow the Department of Infrastructure, Energy and Resources access to assess the state of the road and repair it where necessary.?

The tree removal work is expected to take up to six weeks to complete. The affected section of the road will remain closed to traffic until it is deemed safe for motorists.

Another 6 weeks for tree removal, and then Infrastructure will begin their assessment. With any luck, it may be open before the end of the year.

[dave1703]

G'day,

I note that the work on the road was supposed to take "six more weeks" from July 27.

I am visiting Tasmania, again, from the end of September, for a week.

Am I likely to be able to use the Western Explorer?

(Yes, the 6 weeks should have well expired by then, but this is being done by a Government Department!).

dave1703

[Mystic]

Unfortunately your wish is not lilely to come true.

As far as I know nothing has been done to reopen the road, and I have had no response from our premier who apparently does not think such questions worthy of answers. Maybe it is time for a few other members to email him and request further details about plans to reopen the road.

[Mystic]

I have finally received a response from David Bartlett -

Thank you for your email of I August 2008 in relation to the Western Explorer Road.
The Minister for Environment, Parks, Heritage and the Arts, Michelie O'Byrne MP, has
advised me that the Parks and Wildlife Service has engaged Forestry Tasmania to supervise
the sub-contractors undertaking the tree removal on the Western Explorer Road. The
clearing work is expected to take some weeks to complete.
Once completed, the Department of Infrastructure, Energy and Resources will finalise
assessment of the damage to the road and commence works to re-open the road.
Please be assured that ail Government departments are working together to ensure that the
road is reopened to traffic as soon as possible.

It only took around 6 weeks to receive. Perhaps this is an indication of the speed of progress on re-opening the explorer. Whilst the letter is typically non committal and non specific, it appears that tree removal has begun, but gives no indication of how long it will take to assess and repair the road prior to re-opening after that.

Perhaps early 2009 if we are lucky.

[Mystic]

The Western Explorer is finally due to reopen this Friday according to a press release issued today by the Minister for Infrastructure Graeme Sturgess:

The Western Explorer road on the West Coast is scheduled to reopen to traffic on Friday (24 October), the Minister for Infrastructure, Graeme Sturges, said today.

Mr Sturges said the road had been closed since a bushfire swept the area in March, leaving in its wake many burnt-out and dangerous trees posing a serious traffic hazard.

?The clean-up within the fire zone has now been completed.

?The maintenance contractor is currently cleaning up the road and associated infrastructure, including replacement of burnt signs, guide posts and reflectors.

?At this stage it is expected the road will be ready for re-opening to the general public by 4pm on 24 October.?

Mr Sturges said that while the clean-up had taken longer than expected, the safety of the travelling public had been the paramount consideration in determining the reopening date.

[mcguyver]

Can anyone confirm that the western explorer is in fact noe open. Thanks in advance

[Mystic]

Definitely reopened. There is still some work being done along the road, but it is definitely open for traffic now