Highway Bypass
On 7 December 2004, the RTA announced that the preferred routes for the Pacific Highway will be Inner South 1 and Inner North 2 in the west. The Highway between Sapphire and Woolgoolga will be upgraded and Option E adopted around Woolgoolga.
Coffs Harbour City Council has expressed its strong dissatisfaction with the routes and continues to call for a full bypass west of the city.
Council Continues Bypass Battle (87KB)
Council's response 7 December 2004 (85KB)
Background
Council made representation to the NSW Minister for Roads, Carl Scully, following the announcement by the RTA on 1 June 2004 that the council's preferred corridor - a bypass to the west of the city - is not viable.
Council's Response to RTA Ruling (93KB)
The RTA said a $100,000 feasibility study conducted by the engineering firm of Connell Wagner had concluded there were "major engineering, traffic, environmental and economic problems with the corridor".
No Response
Minister Scully stated on 19 February 2004 that future options for the highway would now be considered by the DIPNR and the RTA.
Council resolved on 18 March 2004, not to respond to the options published in February until the RTA and DIPNR had completed their feasibility study on Council's preferred route - the Western Bypass.
Council's Preferred Route - the Western Bypass
A preferred route for a Pacific Highway Bypass considered to be in the best interests of the local community and highway travellers was formally adopted by Coffs Harbour City Council in October 2003.
The preferred corridor skirts existing urban areas from Englands Road to Red Hill and broadens northwesterly towards the Lower Bucca area and continuing north on a route traversing the Orara East, Lower Bucca and Wedding Bells State Forests.
In deciding this route, Council took account of issues raised at public addresses. The route meets Council's primary objectives of having a minimal impact on residents and being safe and efficient for highway users.
Western Bypass Full Route (798KB)
The formal adoption of the Western Bypass confirmed Council's stance on the Pacific Highway. After commissioning an independent peer review of highway bypass options and running a series of community forums, Council rejected the following options proposed by the RTA:
- upgrading the existing highway
- all inner route options
Options Published in February 2004:
On 19 February 2004, the RTA and DIPNR published a list of routes currently undergoing feasibility studies.
Southern (Coffs Harbour) Section
Two routes were under consideration:
- Council's Western Bypass Route
- An Inner Bypass Corridor
The RTA and DIPNR rejected any plans to upgrade the existing highway; a decision supported by Council.
The RTA also stated that the community-generated Coastal Ridge Way proposal had "major environmental impacts, poor functional performance, high cost and provides poor value for money".
The Inner Bypass Corridor has since been identified as DIPNR and the RTA's preferred route.
Sapphire to Woolgoolga Section
A number of options for the Sapphire to Woolgoolga Section of the highway were considered by the RTA and DIPNR. Options A, B1 and B2 were not favoured and Option D, the upgrading of the existing highway through Woolgoolga, was rejected.
A new option, Option E, subsequently became the preferred route.
Details of all the routes can be found on the Pacific Upgrade section of the RTA's website.
