Published 23rd August 2024
Council has developed a draft Stock Underpass Policy and invites input from the community.
The purpose of the policy is to financially assist farmers with the installation of stock underpasses to improve the safety of the road network and allow for the uncontrolled movement of stock across the road carriageway safely, without affecting other road users.
The draft policy includes the following points:
- Council supports the construction of stock underpasses as a means for improving road safety and limiting the damage to the road and its verges resulting from the movement of stock across roads.
- Council will endeavour to encourage and assist farmers to construct approved underpasses at suitable locations.
- Council will provide assistance in the form of a financial reimbursement of 1/6 of the construction cost and limited to a maximum value of $50,000 excluding GST. $50,000 is the maximum reimbursement for construction undertaken in the 2024/25 financial year and shall be indexed every year at the Consumer Price Index (CPI) for Hobart. The Council reimbursement will be made following a 12-month defect period after practical completion is reached and following satisfactory rectification by the proponent of any road related defects that become evident during that period. The property owner requesting the underpass shall be responsible for all other costs.
- The location, design and construction of the underpass must be approved by the Manager Infrastructure & Assets.
- The crossing shall comply with the current Austroads highway loadings and recommended structure widths for the particular road under consideration as determined by the Guidelines and Councils Road Hierarchy structure.
- Ongoing maintenance and repair of the underpass is the responsibility of the property owner served by the underpass.
A copy of the Policy is available here.
Please provide your feedback in writing to the Manager of Infrastructure and Assets via email to council@kentish.tas.gov.au or via post PO Box 63, SHEFFIELD TAS 7306 no later than 30th September 2024.