Wellington Park's Middle Track and Pillinger Drive Tracks shared use trial outcomes

The Wellington Park Management Trust has considered the results of the shared use trial of upper Middle Track and Pillinger Drive Tracks and had resolved to permanently convert the upper section of Middle Track from Radfords Track to Reservoir Trail to shared use for cycling and walking and to extend the trial of shared use on Pillinger Drive Track to the end of 2016 while it discusses how best to address user concerns with the City of Hobart.

This six month trial looked at providing an off-road link from Fern Tree Park to The Springs for bike riders by trialling the conversion of two walking tracks to shared use.

During the trial the Trust obtained

• data from user counts (number and type of user)
• feedback from the community via an online form on the Trust website
• feedback from track users via on-site survey
• data from monitoring of track surface erosion and corridor change.

The results indicate a high level of support for continued shared use of the upper section of Middle Track and no indication of any adverse impacts on the track. The Trust has noted that some issues were raised about the suitability of Pillinger Drive Track for shared use.

The Trust has therefore resolved

1. to permanently convert the upper section of Middle Track from Radfords Track to Reservoir Trail to shared use for cycling and walking;
2. to extend the trial of shared use on Pillinger Drive Track to the end of 2016 while it discusses how best to address user concerns with the City of Hobart.

Signage will shortly be installed at key locations (Park entry points, trailheads and track intersections) advising users of the new use arrangements.

For further information including a summary of the monitoring program results please visit the Trust website or contact the Ranger, Ben Masterman, on 0408 517 534