Project: Hawley Esplanade Pathway
Status: Approved
Update May 2026:
Latrobe Council would like to thank the community for their continued support, feedback and patience while we plan for the next and final stage of the project. Construction of the concrete shared pathway was completed in early 2026 and additional works to upgrade the existing park tables and install new bin surrounds were identified. The final stage of the project is now underway and includes the following works:
Revegetation: Planting along the foreshore has commenced, starting from Port Sorell Lifesaving Club carpark area. All vegetation being planted are native to the local environment.
Furniture Upgrade: Park table settings have been procured by the council and are scheduled for installation by 22 May 2026. Bin surrounds are scheduled to be installed by the end of June 2026, subject to delivery timeframe. Lead times for furniture procurement have impacted this stage of the project from earlier commencement.
Wheel Stops, Bollards and Linemarking: The contract for these works has been awarded to Roadways. Programming of this stage after awarding was impacted by the procurement lead time required for wheel stops and bollards. These items have now been delivered, and this stage is scheduled for completion by 22 May 2026.
Signage: Signage is currently being procured by the Council. These will be installed following the completion of the above works.
Update November 2025: Latrobe Council is excited to announce that a new part of the raised walkway near the Port Sorell Surf Club is now open - an important milestone in the ongoing Hawley Beach Shared Pathway project.
The new walkway makes it safer and easier for people to walk, run, or ride their bikes through the foreshore area. Designed to protect sensitive coastal vegetation and enhance usability, the elevated walkway continues Latrobe Council’s commitment to balancing community recreation with environmental stewardship.
Mayor Peter Freshney of Latrobe Council said the latest upgrade reflects the strong community input that shaped the broader Hawley Beach multi-purpose pathway.
“This project is the direct result of extensive public consultation, and it’s wonderful to see just how positively it is being received by both residents and visitors to the Port Sorell area. The new elevated section continues Council’s vision for a safe, accessible pathway that blends seamlessly with our beautiful coastal environment while encouraging health and well-being,” Mayor Freshney said.
Latrobe Council also thanked the Oliver Kelly Group for creating an upgrade that is both environmentally friendly and enjoyable for the community.
Update September 2025: The Hawley Foreshore pathway is progressing exceptionally well and is already looking fantastic. While the planning, approvals, detailed design, and tendering phases took longer than originally anticipated, the extended process has ensured strong outcomes. Council is pleased to confirm that the pathway will be completed and open in time for the 2025/26 summer season.
Council and construction teams have received many positive comments from the community throughout the project. The initial works were undertaken by Walters Construction, with elevated sections completed by subcontractor AJR Construct. The remainder of the project has since been carried out by the Oliver Kelly Group.
As the pathway and elevated sections near completion, Council will undertake a full site audit to assess opportunities for a consistent rollout of supplementary features. These may include benches, picnic settings, bollards, bike racks, and other complementary items to enhance community use.
Council acknowledges that there will be fewer opportunities for informal parking along the foreshore, as vehicles will not be permitted to park across the pathway. However, the new path will provide safer pedestrian access to the beaches for local residents, helping to reduce the number of vehicles parked in the area during the summer.
The need for supplementary parking areas will be reviewed over the coming summer season. At this stage, Council does not intend to create formal parking facilities that would only be heavily used for a few days each year.
Update July 2025: Construction of the next stage of the Hawley Pathway is now underway, with works commencing on Section E of the project.
This section will further enhance pedestrian and cyclist connectivity across the region and forms part of Council’s broader plan to deliver safe, accessible, and sustainable transport options for the community.
Mayor Peter Freshney said, “The Hawley Pathway continues to be a vital asset for our local residents and visitors. We’re excited to see progress on Section E, which will provide improved access and linkages for people walking and riding throughout the area.”
Construction is being carried out in accordance with the approved design plan and Council will continue to keep residents informed throughout the project. Council thanks the community for their patience and cooperation while the works are completed.
Further details can be viewed here in the Start Work Notice.
Update April 2025: The Hawley Esplanade shared pathway project has now received approval from the Parks and Wildlife Service, confirming that it meets all environmental and regulatory requirements.
Quotations for the initial three stages of the construction phase have been received. These works include rebuilding the access platform in front of the surf club to improve beach access, as well as creating a new access point for the surf club’s all-terrain vehicle and rescue craft. The construction and reconfiguration of the beach access at this location will also allow for the development of a more graduated ramp from the surf club car park to Hawley Esplanade and beyond.
The contract for these three initial stages has been awarded to Walters Contracting Pty Ltd, and construction has now commenced.
Council will be considering a budget allocation to complete the remaining pathway works in the 2025/26 financial year. We now have a wonderful opportunity for our community and Council to deliver a long-awaited project together.
The challenge and commitment ahead will be to not only provide an all-weather, all-abilities, all-ages, year-round access route to Hawley Beach, but also to enhance the area's natural values. Council is committed to building on the local knowledge and experience of the Rubicon Coast and Landcare Group and all those who have cared for and valued this environment for generations.
While the project is expected to ease parking pressures during peak summer periods by providing a safe alternative access option for locals, Council recognises that informal parking options are highly valued by the community. We will continue to work with the community to explore alternatives relating to this issue and others that arise as the project progresses.
Collaboration, consideration, and communication will remain priorities as we work together on this once-in-a-generation opportunity.
Council thanks all those who have contributed in any way to bringing this project to the construction phase.
Please find detail plans here
Update December 2023: At its meeting on 11 December 2023, Council sitting as a Planning Authority approved the development application for the proposed shared pathway along Hawley foreshore, subject to a number of conditions.
Before construction can commence, the Crown require Council to undertake further investigation in relation to little penguins, nesting shorebirds and the green and gold frog. When the investigation work is done, consent to undertake construction works on Crown Land will be sought from Department of Natural Resources and Environment Tasmania. Work on the drafting of tender documentation for the project has also commenced.
It is possible that on ground works may not commence in the current financial year. If this is the case the allocated funding will be carried forward to next financial year.
Update November 2023: Council has now received consent to lodge and the development application is currently on public exhibition. The application documentation is available at Planning Applications on Public Exhibition | Latrobe Council and submissions in relation to the application must be received by close of business on 16th November 2023.
Update August 2023: Our last update advised that consent to lodge the DA was received from Parks and Wildlife which would have commenced the statutory assessment process under the Planning Scheme and the Land Use Planning and Approvals Act 1993.
The application documentation was drafted based on the Latrobe Interim Planning Scheme 2013. Unfortunately, by the time Council received consent to lodge the new Tasmanian Planning Scheme – Latrobe became effective, and the application has had to be reworked to reflect the requirements of the new scheme. This work has now been completed and the application has been resubmitted to Parks and Wildlife for their consent to lodge.
As soon as the consent is received the application will be lodged with Council’s planning department and it will proceed through the statutory planning process.
Due to the delay in receiving required approvals, the Council has committed $300,000 in their capital works budget for this current financial year, with the balance to be allocated in 2024/25 to enable completion of the project.
Update April 2023: Council has received Crown consent to lodge the Development Application (DA) for the Hawley Esplanade Shared Pathway.
The DA has been submitted to Council’s planning team for preliminary checking. As the DA is likely to be a discretionary application, it will then be advertised for a period of public exhibition. The DA will be available for viewing at the Council Offices and Council’s Public Exhibition website: https://www.latrobe.tas.gov.au/services/building-and-planning-services/planningapp.
Representations can be made up until the end of the expiry date on the public notice. Representations can either be in support of, or in opposition of the proposal. Further details about making a representation can be obtained from the following website: https://www.planning.tas.gov.au/assessments-and-hearings/faqs.
For transparency, the DA will be assessed by an external planning consultant who will make a recommendation at the conclusion of the assessment process. The Council as a Planning Authority will then consider the recommendation at the next available Council Meeting.
The planning assessment process is expected to take approximately eight weeks to complete.
During this time, further work will be undertaken to finalise the construction drawings and tender documents for the project.
A further update will be made once the DA is available for public exhibition
Update December 2022: The Development Application (DA) for the Hawley Esplanade Shared Pathway has been sent to the Parks and Wildlife Service for Crown’s consent. The consent of the Crown is required as a majority of the proposed path is on Crown Land.
Once consent is received, any required amendments or changes will be incorporated into the DA before it is lodged with Council for assessment under the Latrobe Interim Planning Scheme.
As the DA is likely to be a discretionary Planning Application it will need to be advertised. The application will be available for viewing at the Council Offices and Council’s Public Exhibition webpage: https://www.latrobe.tas.gov.au/services/building-and-planning-services/planningapp.
For transparency, the DA will be assessed by an external planning consultant who will make a recommendation for Council to consider at the next available Council Meeting.
The planning assessment process is expected to take approximately eight weeks to complete.
During this time, further work will be undertaken to confirm the ground conditions for the elevated walkway sections which will be used to finalise the construction drawings and tender documents for the project.
A further update will be made once the DA has been lodged with Council.
Update October 2022: Detailed design is 95% complete with some clarifications relating to gradient still to be resolved. The Development Application is being finalised and is likely to be lodged in November 2022.
Scope: After extensive consultation, Council is considering constructing a 2.5m wide concrete exposed aggregate path along the foreshore on the Eastern side of Hawley Esplanade.
Revised plans for the shared path were tabled at Latrobe Council’s 2021 August Meeting along with submissions received about the previous revision.
The revised plans adopted by Council include the removal of the proposed car parking area in vicinity of ‘Little Beach’ and the possible inclusion of an elevated walkway section between chainage 105m and 165m. A copy of the revised plans can be viewed on Council’s website here.
These plans have been lodged with the Department of Natural Resources and Environment (NRE Tas) as the first step in obtaining the necessary approvals and permits.
Parks and Wildlife Service (PWS) administer this land leased by Council from the Crown. PWS officers have been kept up to date with the project as it progresses. A Natural Values assessment and report has been commissioned and is expected to be delivered in early May and will allow a Development Application to be progressed and lodged. The application will be publicly advertised as part of the Planning Approval process. It is difficult to identify a likely construction program until a Planning Permit has been issued.
The Tasmanian Government Grant Funding Deed ($220,000) requires Council to build a shared use pathway. In a practical sense this means providing access for wheelchairs, mobility scooters, and other such mobility devices.
Our Fact Sheets recently handed out during our Community Information Evening has more information. The General Design Update can be downloaded here and the Path Materials Update can be downloaded here.
