Coffs Harbour Bypass

I support the project and recommend it be built asap. Given the impending completion of the Pacific Hwy duplication project this section is the last to be bypassed and will be congested and severely so during holiday periods.

While I disagree with the proposal to build tunnels and the disadvantages this brings such as increased cost and ongoing maintenance leading to closures every couple of months along with certain vehicles unable to use the bypass, I commend that the RMS has listened to local community concerns who clearly wanted a tunnel although I believe the argument could have been made clearer and stronger as to the disadvantages above which could have allowed alternate proposals for the ridge crossings.

While the EIS notes a median barrier will be provided, the visual video does not in all sections and it is imperative regardless of median width that a barrier is provided to prevent head on crashes which has occurred on other duplicated projects with vehicles crossing the grass median.

I support the Coffs Harbour Bypass Project because it will take excess traffic of of the Pacific Highway.

Good afternoon, I support this build, especially with the tunnels. Although I am concerned about the amount of dust that will be in the air, when the construction commences. My son suffers from asthma, and the whole family suffers from bad hay fever. It has been a struggle the last couple of months with the construction of the new park near us, and that is only a small project. It won’t be pleasant having to keep the house locked up constantly, especially in summer. I am also concerned about the construction noise and how that will impact our otherwise quiet estate.
Thankyou for your time.

I haven't seen any kind of cycling infrastructure mentioned in the project materials. Please ensure that there are cycle-ways included in the planned project for at least some sections of the bypass ideally with linkages to connect Gatelys Road with Coramba Road. This would create a cycle loop around Coffs Harbour and give residents of western parts of Coffs Harbour some cycling options which they currently lack.

I support this much needed project.
This submission is to appeal for an extension of the Korora noise barrier in the vicinity of chainage 21,500.00. In particular, for an extension further south of Ferntree Place of the proposed Korora sound barrier as is shown currently shown in the EIS .
Points made:
1 This is the upper end of "Korora Hill" and the EIS shows no significant improvement of the gradient on this section. Trucks use multiple gear changes ascending or exhaust brakes descending.
2 Average noise measurements would probably not capture the "peaks" of noise from the above actions. (On a clear night they sound like they'e on James Small Drive!)
3 The EIS shows that this section will be further elevated which will only exacerbate the problem.
4 Korora is an expanding suburb and with the ever increasing flow of trucks on the highway, the problem will grow.

Highway noise is an ongoing complaint in Korora and I sincerely hope that this great project will give us the same relief as is to be provided on the southern section of Coffs.

Bruce Robertson

First I would like to congratulate the RMS and Dept of Environment and Planning for producing an excellent EIS incorporating three tunnels as demanded by the community. My comments are as follows:

1. I note in Chapter 26 that noise remediation for properties impacted by noise during construction and on completion of the bypass will have the necessary noise remediation undertaken on their properties prior to construction. This is an important issue for the community.

2. There is however, what appears to be an anomaly in the Mitigated Noise Contour with low noise pavement and Noise Barriers Map - 03 in that:
a. One property to the west of Shephards Lane furthest away from the bypass is annotated above NCG criteria and yet the properties closer to the bypass are not?
b. Two properties to the East of Shephards Lane at the end of Coriedale Drive, which are closer to the bypass are not notated as above NCG Criteria and yet the adjacent properties further from the bypass and protected by the two closer properties are notated as above NCG Criteria. There is a similar anomaly on the southern side of Coriedale Drive.

3. Chapter 26 highlights that the contractor is responsible for developing all environmental impacts during the detailed design and construction of the bypass. It is important for the integrity of the bypass design that the contractor is contracted to build the bypass to the detailed design approved by the RMS and not contracted to design and build the bypass. It is appropriate for the contractor to develop his plans for mitigating various environmental impacts resulting from the RMS approved plan.

Thank you.

Kind regard

Graham Stubington

I am pleased to see the EIS released recently includes three tunnels. I write to request that the EIS in it's current form be retained and that the final tender be for CONSTRUCT only (not DESIGN AND CONSTRUCT) so the community has certainty that what is in the EIS is what we will get as the end product.

Whilst I am pleased to see the recently released EIS includes three tunnels, I write to implore the Department to retain these tunnels in the final design and ensure the final tender is for CONSTRUCT ONLY, not "design and construct", so the community can have certainty that the design tendered is the one we will end up with.

Possible 'safe' and economical solution to the restrictions on Dangerous Goods Vehicles using tunnels.
Specially: The Coffs Harbour Bypass.

To whom it may concern,
Thank you for listening to the community and providing tunnels in the Coffs Harbour bypass. I support the location of the highway and the use of tunnels, however, there are two other key areas which have not been adequately addressed in the new design which still require attention.
1- appropriate noise mitigation measures for houses on the western side of the highway do not seem to have been included in the design. Experience from the bypass at Sapphire has shown that elevated residents on the western side of the highway have been significantly impacted as a result of lack of noise mitigation measures and refraction of noise from noise mitigation walls on the eastern side of the highway. Residents on the western side of the highway need to be given the same consideration as those on the east and noise mitigation to reduce impact on these residents is essential.

2- The use of the highway corridor as a koala corridor does not seem to have been incorporated. The bypass will impact on koala and other native species movement, regardless of the tunnels and as such more effort should be made to facilitate koala movement using the bypass corridor. The design should include planting koala food trees along the corridor outside of the fauna fence area. Fauna fences should be located as close as possible to the road to maximise the area available to create fauna corridors.
Please ensure that the two matters above are appropriately addressed.
Kind regards

With regards to the Coffs Harbour bypass, the planned entrance to the west korora basin is unacceptable. It is complicationed and significantly increases the travel time for people travelling into Coffs Harbour.

Having no direct access to highway when traveling north seems like an easy fix.

However having to travel north to saphire beach before then returning south along another side road to get to Coffs Harbour is a unacceptable.

It will affect acceptability to the suburb which will affect property prices as entering and exiting will be overly complicated.

I would like a response as to why this suburb has been neglected

I like the refined design including use of tunnels, lower road height and low noise pavement. The three interchanges seem like they have all required on and off ramps.

I whole-heartedly support the proposal and want the construction to start as early as possible, and the construction to be fast-tracked to reduce the stated four-year construction period. I note there has recently been mention of a '4 to 5-year' construction period and this new slippage cannot be allowed to occur given the interminable delays that have already transpired.

While I was not averse to the proposal that included land bridges and a cutting, the now proposed design with lowered horizontal alignments and incorporating tunnels will provide an even better solution.

The cost seems to have increased by about $620M - seems there has been no real problem with such a large percentage increase in the project cost. Makes you wonder why there is an insistence on Value Management Studies.

The EIS states that a 12m wide median has been abandoned for a 5m one generally except for some specific locations, but sections of the EIS still say 12m. It is also noted as 'variable and about 12m (5m min-20m max)'. How much of the length will be 5m?

The low noise pavement is now proposed everywhere except in the tunnels - why is this so?

The issue of the need to still transport dangerous goods through the CBD seems to have been tucked away in Chapters 26 and 29, and the issue seems to be ignored for now. Does this mean the EIS is anticipating a change in legislation? Is it proposed that a move towards the Natroad-advocated risk-based assessment approach, and the potential trial on removing restrictions of dangerous goods through selected tunnels in Sydney and designating key dangerous goods routes with appropriate access and rest areas, is a possibility?

Please refer to attachment for submission

I live at Korora. The plans show a new Noise wall indicated by a blue line on the eastern side of the new road. To fully protect the Korora residential area from noise I request that this new wall be extended southwards to the roundabout at the Korora interchange. Regards Colin Spring.

The Coffs Harbour Bypass should proceed on the basis of a construct only contract and the exhibition of a detailed design. It MUST not proceed on the basis of a design and tender contract. A construct only contract, together with an exhibition of a detailed design, will go a long way to allay the deep community distrust that has arisen over this project. The people of Coffs Harbour do not want to see unexpected and undesirable modifications down the track.