Victoria Street two-way report rejected as Collins Street concerns drive urgent action

A proposed report on making Victoria Street two-way from the 2027-28 financial year has been rejected, while the City of Hobart has ordered urgent action on safety, access and traffic-flow concerns linked to the Collins Street trial.

The amendment was put during debate on the Transforming Collins Street Trial and was lost. It would have required a report on converting Victoria Street to two-way operation, leaving no approved report on that change.

Councillors then carried a motion requiring officers to address three issues around Collins Street. The first concerns restricted turning space for buses and other long vehicles at the corner of Collins and Harrington streets, near the new on-road dining area.

The motion also points to the removal of a drop zone outside the Village Cinema, which is affecting trade and access for young people, elderly people and people with a disability.

The third issue is the reduction from two traffic lanes to one for vehicles leaving Victoria Street, including Centrepoint Carpark. The motion says cars have been banked up in Centrepoint for about an hour during peak periods.

Council officers said the tight bus turn had been identified before the trial began. After discussions with bus operators and further observations, the stop line was moved back by about one metre. Officers said the arrangement was working appropriately and would continue to be monitored.

The council also ordered a community awareness campaign, including on-location signage, advising people that it is illegal to ride e-scooters in the separated bike lanes on Collins Street.

The rejected amendment does not prevent a future Victoria Street proposal. For now, however, the council’s action is focused on the Collins Street trial and its reported effects on road users, nearby businesses and people relying on access to the Village Cinema.