A battle is underway to keep a historic hedge near Longford from being torn down and replaced with an overtaking lane on a busy stretch of the Illawarra Road.
Seventh-generation Tasmanian Frances Stewart, and her partner Simon Stewart, want the Northern Midlands Council to help them save the hedge, saying it is culturally and ecologically significant.
Established about 1830, it was featured in artwork by Tasmanian artist John Glover Jnr — the eldest son of renowned landscape artist John Glover — and originals are kept in the National Library of Australia.
"It's very difficult to replace hedges or trees that were planted so long ago," Mr Stewart said.
“It seems like a tragedy.”
The future of the historic hedge is threatened by a proposal to upgrade a key freight route that connects the north and the south of the state.
"It's 200 years of history," she said.
Illawarra Road runs between the Midland and Bass highways and creates a seven-minute shortcut, allowing motorists to avoid switching highways at Prospect on the outskirts of Launceston.
But the road is punctuated by numerous driveways, which are used by slow-moving agricultural vehicles and it lacks wide shoulders found on most modern highways and requires millions of dollars of upgrades to accommodate increasing freight volumes.
A State Growth spokesperson said the link between the Bass and Midland highways was significant for road freight.
State Growth data shows average daily volumes at the Bass Highway end of Illawarra Road are 4,459 vehicles, 21.7 per cent of which are heavy vehicles.
It said environmental and heritage impacts are managed in accordance with legislation and planning schemes and the hedge's future would be given careful consideration during the design stage.
Trucks use road to save time on highway trip
The Tasmanian Transport Association supports the upgrade to widen the lanes and shoulders of the road between the Longford roundabout and Bishopsbourne Road.
Two heavy vehicle driver rest areas will also be developed near the Longford roundabout.
But the Stewarts argue that increasing the speed and number of trucks on the road will just create further damage.
"Having more trucks going a little bit faster will do incredible damage," Mr Steward said.
"Every time there's a heavy rainfall, the road just goes to pack. You're getting bits of road thrown up to hit your windscreen the size of fists.
"It's going to make it even more dangerous. It's going to turn it into a racetrack."
The couple questions why millions of dollars were spent on building the Perth bypass if trucks were just going to use it to get off the highway and use Illawarra Road.
The Stewarts are hoping to secure a heritage listing for the scenic barrier and stop the demolition.
North Midlands Mayor Mary Knowles is yet to formally support the listing and said it was about balancing the community's infrastructure needs.
"The road is very busy and definitely needs an upgrade," the Mayor said.
"But we need to protect scenic corridors in our area.
"They're very significant, they're the reason people come to visit Tasmania; our lovely heritage, beautiful scenery, and what's there some of it actually needs to stay."
Hedge under surveillance for wildlife
Trucks and beautification aside, the hedge may be helpful to native wildlife.
Tasmanian Land Conservancy ecologist Helen Morgan has been monitoring wildlife in the area, and has documented spotted quolls, bandicoots and Tasmanian devils.
As part of a four-year monitoring program, she has installed wildlife cameras to capture any creatures who might be seeking refuge in the hedge.
"In this landscape [there's] a lot of clearing and a lot of native vegetation is gone. Native Wildlife really needs cover, so any cover is helpful for wildlife."
The Stewarts believe the hedge provides an important barrier between the road and a bandicoot refuge they have established alongside their dam.
Ms Stewart said there were also nesting sites for native animals all across the hedge and it provided a barrier to the road.
"My ancestors, Andrew and Hannah Gatenby, came out [to Tasmania] in 1823 and built the Penny Royal corn mill, which then got moved brick by brick into Launceston … so we are very passionate about conserving what our forefathers put in place," she said.
