TIME TO MOVE ON

 

CURRENT ACTION PLAN

STATUS QUO FOR BATMAN'S MEMORY

 The state government has advised councils of the next steps in the process to rename the controversial Batman Bridge.

West Tamar, Launceston and George Town councils successfully passed motions at previous meetings to request the state government initiate a process to rename the bridge

The state government confirmed that they had no intention of renaming the controversial bridge.

"While the government doesn't plan to rename the Batman Bridge, it is open to others to make proposals," a statement read.

"The government has provided advice to the councils on the process available through the Place Names Advisory Panel, which would include the necessary consultation with stakeholder groups and essentially the wider public."

The West Tamar motion requested the government undertake historical research on the actions and behaviours of John Batman and start consultation with the Aboriginal community over the placement of an art sculpture and plaque at the bridge.

West Tamar Council confirmed they had received correspondence from the state government regarding the issue since the letter.

"We received a letter from Premier Peter Gutwein in July 2021, acknowledging the one sent to him after the motion in our May 2021 council agenda," she said.

West Tamar mayor Holmdahl said she was unaware of any current proposals to rename the bridge.

Historical records indicate that John Batman was associated with the killings of Aboriginal people at Ben Lomond.

The Victorian government abandoned the Batman name in one of its electorates and renamed it Cooper, in 2018.

Other landmarks including a paver in Launceston Civic Square and Batman Avenue acknowledge John Batman.

Launceston mayor Albert van Zetten said the council had no plans to rename the street which bears Batman's name.

"The council has not considered any other renaming proposals," he said.

Calls to rename the bridge were renewed earlier this year after George Town Council supported a motion to commemorate the Litarimirina people with a plaque at the bridge.

BATMAN AT KINGSTON TASMANIA

 

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ACTION STATIONS

BRIDGES DO NOT NEED NAMES

DEname NOT REname 

ON THE RECORD

 

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LOCATION

 

Length: 10km

Eastern Terminus: East Tamar Highway (A8), 19km south of George Town

Western Terminus: West Tamar Highway (A8), 10km north of Exeter

Route taken: Highway B73 [ PKA Batman Highway]

Focal Points: George Town, Beaconsfield/Exeter/Launceston

Route B73 introduced: 1980

Batman Highway proclaimed:

Batman Bridge opened: 18 May 1968

Responsibility: State Government

Highway B73 [ PKA Batman Highway]

Highway B73 [ PKA Batman Highway] is a two-lane, undivided east-west highway in Tasmania's north, linking the East and West Tamar Highways via the Batman Bridge. The Batman Highway provides the only crossing of the Tamar River north of Launceston and serves traffic from the West Tamar to the port at Bell Bay.

Route B73:

Route B73 is an east-west route in northern Tasmania, utilising Highway B73 [ PKA Batman Highway] and the BRIDGE B73 [ PKA Batman Bridge] to connect the East and West Tamar Highways. It was officially introduced in 1979 and, judging by the age of some signs along the route, signs were erected not long afterwards. There have been no changes to the route since its inception.

Route B73 provides the only vehicle crossing of the Tamar River north of Launceston and is thus heavily utilised - traffic volumes peak at 2,013 vehicles per day (2003) at the BRIDGE B73 [ PKA Batman Bridge]

During July 2008, the junction with Spring Hill Main Rd (C725) was reconstructed to give priority to B73 traffic. Prior to this, traffic from Exeter gave way to between Spring Hill Main Rd and BRIDGE B73 [ PKA Batman Bridge].