Sleeping Beauty Community Alliance

27/08/2026

A question was submitted to council about parking and footpaths to connect with the current Grove intersection works and make it easier for people to catch the buses, walk and cycle. Comments welcomed on what the communities around the intersection need. The following is the council answer in full:

"Mountain River and Crabtree areas are largely zoned as Rural and Rural Living, with a small portion close to the intersection zoned as Low Density Residential. Investment in infrastructure is guided by the broader usage patterns of the area, rather than the demands of individual businesses or developments. Where the underlying concern is pedestrian safety rather than amenity, engineering treatments such as speed-limit reviews, line marking, lighting at
specific conflict points, and improved bus stops can deliver comparable risk reduction at a fraction of the whole-of-life cost of a new footpath. The bus stop relocation at the intersection, together with the associated parking improvements currently underway, reflects the Tasmanian Government’s and Huon Valley Council’s shared commitment to road safety. Council has been working closely with the Department of Building Tasmania on
Stage 2 of the Grove Intersection design, which builds on the Stage 1 intersection upgrade currently underway. Stage 2 includes widening Turn Creek Road, creating up to 16 sealed parking spaces, and adding a new footpath that connects to the soon-to-be constructed footpath along the Huon Highway, providing a safe route separated from live traffic to the relocated bus stops. The concept design has been finalised and is now progressing through the final design phase. The formalised parking along Turn Creek
Road will also provide a safe pick-up and drop-off location for parents using the bus service, as well as all-day parking opportunities for other public transport users. These will be Council-owned and maintained assets that directly support active transport outcomes for bus users, local workers and families in the area.

Council recognises that parking provision and public transport patronage are closely linked. It is understood that improved infrastructure is needed to support increased usage, and that increased usage, in turn, strengthens the case for further investment. Council strongly encourages the community's use of public transport, and this strengthens Council’s ongoing advocacy with the Tasmanian Government to prioritise investment in public transport and associated infrastructure.

Council has continued to impress upon the Department the importance and urgency of this parking improvement work and is hopeful that Stage 2 will proceed directly following completion of the Stage 1 intersection upgrade."

24/07/2026

Work on the Grove Intersection improvement works to begin 3 August for 4 months. Temporary bus stops will be used during construction.

Write up on project from Huon News 16 June 2026:

"Civil construction company awarded Grove intersection contract – but locals say plan falls short

A civil construction company has been awarded the contract to upgrade the intersection of the Huon Highway and Mountain River Road at Grove – but the plan has fallen well short of what many locals had asked for.

Andrew Walter Construction will carry out bus stop and pedestrian safety improvements at the site, with work set to begin in August and expected to be complete by early 2027, weather permitting.

The intersection has a long history of safety concerns, and after 2,828 letterbox drops and a formal consultation process spanning May 26 to June 22, 2025, some community members feel the final design does not reflect what they requested.

Minister for Infrastructure and Transport Kerry Vincent said the plan had been developed alongside the community.

“We have worked alongside the Huon Valley Council and local community since 2025 to seek feedback on the initial concept design options for upgrading the intersection,” Minister Vincent said.

“Feedback highlighted safety concerns, including speed limits, limited visibility and pedestrian crossings near bus stops as the community’s highest priorities.”

The Huon Highway speed limit through Grove was reduced from 100 kilometres an hour to 80km/h on March 28, 2025.

Upgrades will include relocating the two existing bus stops approximately 100 metres south of the intersection, a new pedestrian island for two-stage highway crossing, street lighting, and new footpaths and a road barrier to separate pedestrians from traffic.

But community members have pointed out that during consultation they were presented with four concept options – and none of them were ultimately selected.

Instead, the Department of State Growth’s own feedback summary confirms that after an internal departmental workshop, a fifth ‘hybrid’ design was developed and finalised without further community input.

The department has stated the intersection is ‘suitable for current traffic volumes’ and that major upgrades would take too long – a position that has frustrated many locals who had called for a roundabout or an underpass.

Parking was also raised by 17.5 per cent of respondents as a key concern, with many requesting park-and-ride facilities. The final design does not include parking, with only a future shoulder widening investigation noted – but the Department of State Growth says additional parking is being actively developed with the Huon Valley Council for delivery at a later stage.

Community members will be watching to see whether that commitment materialises.

Questions have been raised about federal funding, with the Australian Government having committed $40 million for upgrades along the Huon Highway corridor – and the department’s documentation noting that future improvements to the Grove intersection may be considered as part of that work.

That has prompted community members to ask why the intersection is currently being limited to $3 million in state funding.

The Tasmanian Government has committed $3 million to cover improvements at both Grove and the Huon Highway intersection with Leslie Road in Leslie Vale, with design and consultation on the latter scheduled to begin in August.

In the Legislative Council in April, Minister Vincent confirmed the Leslie Vale intersection upgrade is being funded through the federal corridor mechanism, describing the $40 million pool as having flexibility to move between projects.

It remains unclear whether any of that federal funding has been or will be directed to the Grove intersection, where the immediate works are covered by the $3 million state commitment.

The department has also committed to a review of the speed limit on the Huon Highway corridor following the project’s completion.

“I look forward to seeing these upgrades delivered,” Minister Vincent said."

Further info: https://www.transport.tas.gov.au/roadworks/current_projects/south_road_projects/Huon-Highway-Mountain-River-Road-Pedestrian-Safety-Improvement-Project

22/07/2026

** Consultation open until 30 July: Proposed new Tasmanian regulations on the SALE (OR BARTER/ SWAP) OF LEAFY GREENS, BERRIES & MELONS **
Growers under 1ha will be exempt from accreditation but will still be required to register details of their growing activities, and have a food safety program in place, that includes water monitoring/ testing and exclusion of wild animals. Growers over 1ha will need to pay ~$300/yr, pay for accreditation and meet further requirements. This feels heavy-handed for Tasmania - the risk of illness is tiny compared to the problems caused by stopping people growing, selling, sharing and swapping food.
People have until 30 July to send in a submission. Complete the online form or send your written submission to: [email protected]
Details: https://nre.tas.gov.au/biosecurity-tasmania/product-integrity/development-of-the-primary-produce-safety-(horticulture-produce)-regulations

02/07/2026

Are you affected by smoke pollution from burning logging "waste" ?
Please ... Sign and share widely

https://haepetitions.parliament.tas.gov.au/haepet/Home/PetitionDetails/148?title=Petition+Details&fbclid=IwY2xjawSy2d1leHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZAwzNTA2ODU1MzE3MjgAAR45HQ_qWvpMxvXyClHHiGj215eWLE71Jg-2X7l2C5VQVQ-EG-EMvdD8AnTInQ_aem_Vo24Ett3wDvaRXqphPYgRA

That Sustainable Timber Tasmania's extensive post-logging forestry burns create very heavy smoke throughout autumn, which impacts tourist businesses and the health and well-being of people in many communities. These unnecessary burning practices increase climate heating and destroy habitat for w...

25/06/2026

Help shape child and family learning opportunities in the Valley:

Supports children and families to access and participate in early learning and support services.

24/06/2026

https://engage.huonvalley.tas.gov.au/connecting-and-forstering-environmental-action/connecting-and-fostering-environmental-action-workshop-28-june-2026

21/05/2026

In the budget. Not much for our area.