Environmental Impact Statement is now on exhibition
The Coffs Harbour bypass project EIS is now available to view online. The design of the project has been updated since the project was displayed to the community in 2018.
In response to community feedback, changes include lowering the height of the bypass and incorporating three tunnels at Roberts Hill, Shephards Lane and Gatelys Road.
The EIS has been prepared on this refined design. The EIS exhibition is an opportunity for the community to make comment on the project, potential environmental impacts and proposed mitigation measures for the proposed bypass.
EIS submissions must be provided to the Department of Planning, Industry and Environment by 11:59pm on Sunday 27 October.
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Find out more about the EIS
The Coffs Harbour bypass EIS interactive web portal is now available to find out more about the EIS and how to make a submission. View the EIS web portal here.
The EIS project update is available now and provides an overview about key design improvements, environmental factors and how to make a submission.
The Coffs Harbour bypass display office is staffed by the project team and the community are welcome to drop in and ask questions about the project and view project information. Located at 11a Park Avenue Coffs Harbour, the office will be open from Monday to Friday during the EIS exhibition period, which starts Wednesday 11 September.
Members of the project team will be available to discuss the EIS at upcoming community drop-in sessions, or pick up a copy of the latest project information at a pop-up display. See details below.
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Community consultative committee
A Community Consultative Committee (CCC) has been established for the Coffs Harbour bypass project. The purpose of the CCC is to provide a forum for discussion between Roads and Maritime Services (as the proponent of the Coffs Harbour bypass project) and representatives of the Coffs Harbour community, stakeholder groups and the local council on issues directly relating to the Coffs Harbour bypass project.
Information about the CCC can be found here.To contact the CCC, please email colgellatly@outlook.com.au.
Guidelines for community consultative committees can be found here.
The preferred route
The preferred route for the Coffs Harbour bypass was confirmed in 2004 and provides a four lane divided motorway standard road from Englands Road in the south and connects with the newly upgraded Sapphire to Woolgoolga section in the north. The route passes through the North Boambee Valley, through the Roberts Hill ridgeline and then traverses the foothills of the Coffs Harbour basin west and north to Korora Hill.
Roads and Maritime will be seeking planning approval through carrying out the environmental impact statement on the preferred route.
The current route map can be viewed here.
Project background
Roads and Maritime Services has been investigating a Coffs Harbour bypass since 2001 as part of the Pacific Highway upgrade. The preferred route was announced in 2004 and the concept design report was published in 2008.
Since then funding priorities have targeted the full duplication of the Pacific Highway between Hexham and the Queensland border by 2020.
In March 2015 the NSW Government pledged $200 million for construction of the project, subject to a business case and significant funding from the Australian Government. The project has been allocated funding to carry out the environmental assessment and to finalise the concept design.
In December 2017 a strategic business case was submitted to the Australian Government to begin discussions about the project.
In May 2018 the Australian Government committed $971 million to build the project, and in September Roads and Maritime released the preferred concept design for community feedback.
