Residents have started a campaign for a footpath to be added to a section of Romilly Street to allow safer pedestrian access to the Waterworks Reserve.
Where’s Romilly Street?
Romilly Street in South Hobart connects Davey Street to Waterworks Road. It’s a street that has inner residential zoning — aiming for a higher density of houses & apartments with a focus on residential amenities such as walkability. In keeping with this zoning, a couple of multi-townhouse developments have been built here in the last few years.
Romilly Street has only moderate through traffic but is an important pedestrian & cycling route. As well as the local residents, other people choose it as a route between Waterworks Road and South Hobart that avoids the famously steep Lynton Avenue. It is also the start point of the Sandy Bay Rivulet Pipeline Track which is very popular with walkers, runners and riders — an important way to access the Waterworks Reserve and beyond.
What’s the issue?
A substantial section of Romilly Street doesn’t have a footpath. This section is towards the Waterworks Road end, between the top of the hill and the ‘rainbow’ bridge at the bottom.
The road in this section is steep with a crest, sharp bends and resultant poor visibility. It’s usually shaded meaning it’s often slippery — sometimes icy. Importantly it’s also the point where the Sandy Bay Rivulet Pipeline Track starts.
Pedestrians, runners, parents with prams, kids on bikes — everyone is forced onto the road (or worse the goat track on the outside of the safety fence 😳).
How could it be improved?
Potential improvements include:
- Add a footpath to one or both sides of the road. There is probably room to do this without widening the road or reducing parking.
- Install a wombat crossing at the entry to the Sandy Bay Rivulet Pipeline Track. This would improve access for pedestrians & cyclists and would also serve to slow traffic before it reaches the section of road that is twisty, steep & slippery.
- Install a pedestrian crossing point near the southern end of the bridge. (Unless new footpaths make it no longer necessary to cross here.)
How to get this done?
City of Hobart is responsible for Romilly Street.
Hobart Streets submitted this idea to City of Hobart in November 2023 for consideration of inclusion into their 2024-25 budget.
A petition on change.org was signed by 144 people in 2 weeks in December 2023 showing there’s strong community support for this idea. The petition was lodged with City of Hobart in early January 2024.
How can I help?
Email City of Hobart directly — coh@hobartcity.com.au — to let them know you think this is a great idea
Share this post with your friends & neighbours
It feels so dangerous and stressful trying to get to Romilly track – I often walk there with my kids and have so much trouble negotiating with pram and 4 yo in toe. I have to make my 4 yo walk by himself on the gravel and then push the pram uphill on the road between parked cars. It is crucial to get a footpath to make sure no one gets hurt inadvertently.
Exactly! Please don’t forget to sign the petition on change.org!
The Waterworks Valley Landcare Group developed a plan in conjunction with the HCC, back in 1999, for a path which could meet the pipeline track on the Romilly Street end and extend down to near Lynton Avenue. The landscape has changed somewhat, and that plan doesn’t address the needs of people following around Romilly Street from Waterworks Road, but it seems there may be an opportunity to combine interests.
Kindly contact WVLG at
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100064395533780
Extending the track to Lynton Ave is a great idea Robert. This footpath would connect the track ends and with a pedestrian crossing it would work even better. No reason the footpath can’t be built in a way to allow easy connection to a future track extension.
Thank you for undertaking, I have been meaning to do this for ages. If you need any help please feel free to contact me as I have experience that would be helpful