A Proposal for a Path to Port Arthur

Kim Peart, in “Moreton Bay to Port Arthur”, supports a proper path which, as he rightly notes, would be a boon to walkers and cyclists:

After some years living in Queensland and now resident in Roſs, I find there is no safe footpath between Roſs and Campbell Town along the busy Midlands Highway, where giant trucks roar along and cars speed past.

When researching the life of the Danish adventurer, Jorgen Jorgenson, 1780-1841, I found his tale included walking the roads of many countries, including Van Diemen’s Land.

In her 1986 book, Life is for Living, Marjorie Bligh described how her father would frequently walk from Roſs to Campbell Town to play his piano accordion at dances.  Marjorie would also walk between the towns to go shopping and later ride her bicycle along the highway.

I have raised this matter of a footpath between the towns with the Council, but there is no sign of action or planning yet.  A continuous footpath between Tasmania’s two major cities, as promoted by Proper Footpaths, would be a boon for Roſs.  Such a footpath would also be a boon for the 30,000 cyclists who ride their way around Tasmania each year.  [...]

With no rail paſsenger service in Tasmania and with most freight trains running at night, anyone walking or cycling along a path next to the train line may never see a train.  Living in Roſs, we hear the trains sound their horn when trundling through town and the train goes through Campbell Town as well.  Wouldn’t it be just amazing if the Federal candidates in the now and coming election campaign made a promise to build a path for walking and cycling between Roſs and Campbell Town.  If this were to happen, why not have a walking and cycle track all the way from Launceston to Hobart, which could follow the train line.

With 30,000 visiting cyclists arriving in Tasmania every year, each looking for somewhere to ride, why not run the trail from the ferry to Hobart and Port Arthur?  Would that be a Federal vision worth funding, creating much needed work for Tasmanians and improving the visitor experience?

Do read the whole article in the Tasmanian Times.