Skip to main content

State Significant Infrastructure

Determination

NICB Rankin Park to Jesmond Bypass

Newcastle City

Current Status: Determination

Interact with the stages for their names

  1. SEARs
  2. Prepare EIS
  3. Exhibition
  4. Collate Submissions
  5. Response to Submissions
  6. Assessment
  7. Recommendation
  8. Determination

Construction of a new four-lane dual carriageway bypass between Lookout Road at New Lambton Heights and Newcastle Road at Jesmond.

Consolidated Approval

SSI-6888 MOD 1 - Consolidated Approval

Modifications

Archive

Application (2)

EIS (83)

EA (2)

Submissions (7)

Response to Submissions (9)

Determination (3)

Approved Documents

Management Plans and Strategies (48)

Reports (21)

Independent Reviews and Audits (9)

Notifications (1)

Other Documents (25)

Note: Only documents approved by the Department after November 2019 will be published above. Any documents approved before this time can be viewed on the Applicant's website.

Complaints

Want to lodge a compliance complaint about this project?

Make a Complaint

Enforcements

There are no enforcements for this project.

Inspections

5/04/2022

7/03/2023

3/05/2023

4/07/2023

5/09/2023

13/09/2023

10/10/2023

29/11/2023

12/12/2023

1/02/2024

6/02/2024

9/04/2024

7/05/2024

2/07/2024

6/08/2024

6/08/2024

5/11/2024

3/12/2024

7/02/2025

4/03/2025

4/05/2025

6/05/2025
 

Note: Only enforcements and inspections undertaken by the Department from March 2020 will be shown above.

Submissions

Filters
Showing 61 - 80 of 175 submissions
Name Withheld
Object
Newcastle , New South Wales
Message
To whom it may concern ,
My family use this cycleways all the time .. It's a through pass that's safe for children to ride their bicycles . I am a local resident of 20 yrs . The thing of three sets of traffic lights is horrendous to families of small children .. This is where we take our kids to learn how to ride their bikes ..we always thought their would. E a tunnel under the road ... Disappointed resident . Poor decisions being made on this cycle way ...
Thanks Rowena Aglio
Trevor Henderson
Object
Lambton , New South Wales
Message
As a resident of Lambton I wish to lodge an objection to the EIS for the proposed Newcastle Inner City By Pass.
The worst aspect of this proposal is the termination of the Jesmond Park cycleway / walkway and its replacement with three sets of traffic lights. The current arrangements provided excellent access to the Jesmond shopping centre and linkages to the west. This poorly considered option will destroy a useful cycleway and limit future cycleway development in Newcastle.
The proposal does not include any works to improve access to existing main roads. A large number of residences in the area bounded by Newcastle Road to the North and Croudace Road to the East currently have poor access to these two major roads. Access to Newcastle road via Robinson Avenue is satisfactory when turning west towards Jesmond but it almost impossible to turn east towards Newcastle in peak traffic periods. During peak traffic periods the only way is to go down to the Jesmond roundabout and back to Newcastle. U turns are not permitted at Steel Street.
Similarly access to Croudace Road is via either Charlton or Armstrong Streets, both of these streets are narrow residential street with parking on both sides, both are affected by school traffic in the morning and afternoon. For both of these streets it is virtually impossible to turn south towards John Hunter Hospital during peak periods. Again removal of the Jesmond roundabout will remove this option to change direction of travel.
The proposal should be improved by including the provision of traffic lights at the Intersection of Robinson Avenue and Newcastle Road.
It is most disappointing that in designing a new and important piece of infrastructure for Newcastle RMS has failed to provide any new cycleways. A cycleway linking McCaffrey Drive to the University and the John Hunter Hospital should be included as part of the project. In Canberra it seems that new cycleways are provided with all new roads, a cycleway was also constructed as part of the M7 in Sydney. Newcastle is being offered a second rate development.
Yours sincerely

Trevor Henderson
NUBUG
Object
Calaghan , New South Wales
Message
It is time for Newcastle motorists to join the rest of the community in getting the RMS to change its plans to have traffic lights slowing motorists from getting on/off the new highway.

The RMS continues to say they are helping all modes of transport but when they spend money they miss the bigger picture. Encouraging everyone into cars is not going to ease road congestion. Getting more people on public transport, bicycling and walking and to make main roads faster, and backstreets safer is how to stop Newcastle traffic becoming like Sydney's. The Uni pushbike club launched it's "Happy Travellers" campaign to get these bigger pictures out into the community and for us all to unite. So motorists need to call on the RMS to build more offroad pushbike paths for the good of the whole network"

The overwhelming desire of the community is that the existing path (which has been used since 1949 when the tramline was removed) be retained as a continuous off road route via an underpass, or combination of underpass and overhead bridges AND to not have more traffic lights impeding road traffic flow. The Roads and Maritime Services have received many submissions over the past few years relating to their plans but they have not made a serious attempt to solve the problem of retaining the path. There are plenty of alternative possibilities for retaining the shared path, but the RMS seem to be not interested in listening and are intent on destroying this community facility.
Also all along the lengths of all the new roads should have separated pushbike lanes
Kim Miller
Object
Woodrising , New South Wales
Message
I have read through the proposal and object to the neglect shown to cyclists and pedestrians in removing the continuous shared path and requiring them to cross several lanes of traffic with three individual pedestrian lights. This is wanton foolishness.

At present, users of the shared path cross a busy road at one of two pedestrian crossings, Blue Gum Road, or Newcastle Road east of the current roundabout. Both of these crossings should be removed in the current bypass plan.

Today's traffic requirements must of necessity give some priority to getting pedestrians and cyclists out of the traffic and onto separate paths. The current shared path does that well, and allows people to walk/cycle through parkland and away from the noise and rush of cars, buses, and heavy vehicles.

I use this cycle way every week and am only one of hundreds of people that I see on it as I ride through each morning. Cycle groups and individuals, school students, mums with babies, old folks with dogs, the path is full of users. To cut their path with the foolishness of three sets of lights astounds me.

And I also object to the plan's rejection of under/overpasses. The two examples given are short sighted and I can only imagine they are put into the submission so any such suggestion can be summarily dismissed. There are several other options for placement that are more serious suggestions.

Please do as cities all over the world are doing and recognise that cycles relieve traffic congestion in all circumstances, that walking is more healthy than driving, and giving priority and dedicated paths to foot-powered users makes sense.
Forest Fauna Surveys Pty Ltd
Comment
Adamstown Heights , New South Wales
Message
I wish to lodge a complaint about the depauperate literature review undertaken on biodiversity associated with the Newcastle Inner City Bypass - Rankin Park to Jesmond EIS, Technical Paper 1 - Biodiversity Assessment Report (November 2016). The consultant GHD has failed to research more widely on published ecological literature relating to the proposed project. For instance, my company conducted a comprehensive habitat tree mapping survey of both Jesmond Bushland and Blackbutt Reserve for Newcastle City Council in 2007. This data is provided in maps within the EIS, but not cited apart from NCC.
Surely agencies such as Newcastle City Council should have been consulted regarding published reports held within their collections. My report found both Powerful Owl and nesting Masked Owls within each reserve, yet this is not cited. Maps of known Masked Owl nest tree is provided in the 2007 report, yet not cited by GHD. The occurrence of Masked Owl is only referred to by GHD as moderate occurrence. No reference is made to seeking records from the Hunter Bird Observers Club Inc. which hold a number of records of both Masked Owl and Powerful Owl for the Jesmond Bushland / Blackbutt Reserve bushland complex.
The entire Biodiversity Assessment requires review as significant threatened species information has been overlooked or dismissed.
I consider one month (November to December 2016) to review 83 documents associated with the EIS too short a time frame for preparation of a formal response. I would just like to iterate that within the short time frame since becoming aware of the public consultation period (2 days), I have identified significant omissions within the Biodiversity Assessment report by GHD. I would like additional time to enable a more detailed assessment as to the adequacy of the assessment, particularly in relation to compensatory measures, habitat viability assessments for threatened species, particularly owls and Squirrel Glider.
Karen Caldwell
Comment
Wallsend , New South Wales
Message
I attended the drop in session for the Bypass stage 5 at the Silver Ridge Community Centre on 1st December. Whilst some of the questions were answered, there was a lot of confusion from residents surrounding the proposed changes to the McCaffrey Drive intersection which remain unclear. The representative continued to repeat statistics of traffic flow etc, but failed to answer definitively any improvements to the number of cars using this and other roads taking traffic from the western suburbs of Newcastle into the city.
At the moment, there is an "unofficial" left hand turning lane used by motorists at the top of McCaffrey Drive to travel towards the John Hunter Hospital. This "lane" is simply a wide shoulder to the existing road which, with the new works, is only going to become an "official" road lane making what is occurring now actually legal. The length of traffic currently using this left turn is not going to be improved with the new road works. This is a major access point to the John Hunter Hospital and needs to be able to cope with the current traffic, as well as future traffic flow. The dual lane right hand turn proposed out of McCaffrey Drive onto Lookout Road is also not going to dramatically improve the traffic flow which, at times, can be as far down as the fixed speed camera on McCaffrey Drive. This dual lane needs to be extended further down McCaffrey Drive.
No question could be answered with regards to the predicted population growth for the western suburbs of Newcastle. New estates at Cameron Park and the expansion of housing at Maryland, Minmi and surrounding suburbs is going to increase the demand for traffic flow into the city. Wallsend is also booming with Strata development at a premium. Single houses are being replaced with apartment blocks and town houses etc so the traffic in the area has and is increasing at a rapid rate.
Newcastle Road is currently not coping, especially at peak times, and will continue to get worse as more development occurs. Other roads in the vicinity of Newcastle Road, including McCaffrey Drive, are becoming more popular as motorists search for a less congested route. Side streets leading into Newcastle Road are impossible to get out of at peak times as the intersections become grid locked. Cars queuing across intersections mean there is simply no room for any cars to enter the traffic flow of Newcastle Road and by the time the traffic starts to clear, the traffic lights have turned red again. Motorists, therefore, are forced to endure multiple sets of traffic lights changes and road rage incidences are on the increase. Removing the roundabout at the Douglas Street and Newcastle Road intersection has dramatically increased the traffic in the area with build ups now occurring at all times of the day, instead of just the peak periods. The traffic light changes are also very quick with only 3-4 cars being allowed through with up to 12 or even more cars waiting at any given time, especially the right turn arrow. The roundabout has also been replaced by traffic lights at the end of the M1 leading into Thomas Street creating major traffic jams again at all times of the day instead of just peak periods. The number of traffic lights now along this route is doing nothing to improve traffic flow.
McCaffrey Drive needs to become a complimentary route to Newcastle Road and be developed to be able to handle a lot more traffic than is proposed to take some of the pressure off Newcastle Road. Grandview Parade is not helping with any diversions with the introduction of speed humps at regular intervals several years ago. The population growth soon to be seen in the western suburbs demands this infrastructure. At the moment, Newcastle Road is the only straight through run from the western suburbs directly into the city centre. It is not coping with the daily morning peak hour movements from the west to east, and the afternoon peak hour movements from east to west. All of the bypasses and road works to date have been to try and alleviate north/south traffic movements only, we need the west/east problems to be alleviated also. The University has started to build its infrastructure in the city and the cruise ship terminal looks to be going ahead, creating even more expected traffic flow in and out of the city. The airport is continually expanding as well and, has become a regional boost, but has also meant higher traffic movements through Newcastle.
The John Hunter Hospital is the largest hospital in the area and services not only Newcastle, but the entire New England region as well. The current concept plan doesn't address the need for more access options in and out of the hospital grounds, not only for patients but Ambulance and Emergency Services as well. Patients and visitors need to be able to access the hospital from both north bound and south bound lanes and also to exit the grounds by north and south directions too.
With all of the information contained in the overview about structures, there is no information about adequate drainage. Wallsend and surrounding suburbs are known to have major issues with regards to the lack of adequate drainage. It is a concern with the amount of under cutting and earthworks involved in this project, that there is no visible or mentioned drainage structures on any of the maps or diagrams. Most of the road works appear to be happening in areas of high topography, so containment for any run off to lower lying areas is paramount.
A potential new sporting complex has just been announced for Maryland and future projects will surely be announced once the upgraded road systems eventuate. This is a vital piece of infrastructure for Newcastle and the traffic movements need to be accommodated and adequate not only for current trends, but for many years into the future as well.
All statistics are seemingly being compared to Sydney to determine if this infrastructure is viable. This is not Sydney, it is Newcastle and the taxpayers, and therefore voters, deserve a lot more infrastructure projects in this area. Public transport is not really a viable option for western suburb residents with a lack of services and reliability issues as the buses are caught up in the same traffic congestion as the cars.
Please listen to the residents' genuine concerns so to avoid another fiasco like the Tourle Street Bridge. The sale of the Port Of Newcastle, in part, has provided the means to be able to allow for these long overdue works to be completed. We need infrastructure here in Newcastle, Sydney has had more than its fair share of works, let us be looked after properly as well. Spend the money now so that it's right for the future.
Thankyou for taking the time to read my concerns.
Regards Karen Caldwell.
Stephen Wines
Object
Maryville , New South Wales
Message
The existing cycle/walkway must be maintained.
An underpass or overpass would be best.
The proposal is completely impractical.
Forcing cyclists on to the road is far to dangerous.
The track has been there since 1949 and is well used.
David Leahy
Comment
Cooks Hill , New South Wales
Message
Please take this great opportunity to build a continuous bi-directional cycleway along the length of this project, linking Blackbutt reserve, the hospital, and the University with a safe, protected cycleway. Opportunities like this materialize rarely and should be taken advantage of. The cost for integrating cycling infrastructure will be minimal compared to the costs of the entire project. Furthermore, it will link with planned cycleways towards Tarro and Kurri Kurri. The removal of cycling infrastructure at Jesmond is poor planning in this day and age. Please do this right. Kind Regards, Dave Leahy

66 Bruce Street
Cooks Hill NSW 2300
Michael Probert
Object
North Lambton , New South Wales
Message
I have looked at the plan and note there is no underpass for the existing Jesmond park cycleway to Victory Parade or to Illoura Street.
This will force cyclists including lots of school children down to the main road crossing and have to negotiate dangerous crossings.
Children may not wait for the green crossing with disastrous results.
My wife and I have nearly been hit numerous times on pedestrian / cycle crossings by drivers that do not stop.
One occasion a car was undertaking the stopped cars on the far lane on the gutter at around 70 km/h and missed us by a few CM.
Another the driver just seemed to ignore the red light and came flying through it behind us just as we made it to the gutter.

There is also new cycle path that goes along Victory Parade into the brickworks park that would no longer link to the Jesmond park one.

Maybe RMS should have consulted this to see just how much this path is used and how much traffic will be slowed by repeated crossing activations.
http://labs.strava.com/heatmap/#13/-208.32670/-32.92945/blue/both

They even have a tool that can be used by planners.
http://metro.strava.com/

Note: that data only shows the strava users and does not account for the much higher number of non strava users IE: lots families with small children use that path as well as quite a lot of elderly walkers.

Please consider making it safe for the large amount of cyclists and pedestrians I see passing through there every day.

As a local I welcome the change of the bypass as I might actually be able to get out of Steel Street on to Newcastle road in my car during peak times.
I don't want to have to wait in my car at the poorly designed intersection for pedestrians and cyclists pushing the 3 crossing buttons.

Looking at the design of the intersection it appears if someone exits the bypass on the wrong exit they can't get back onto it as all of the lanes from the offramps are left or right turn only they do not appear to allow you to get back onto the bypass.

Regards
Michael Probert
Darren Hope
Object
Newcastle West , New South Wales
Message
I am very concerned about the projects reduction of safety in crossing from east to west for pedestrians and bicycle riders.
To increase the number of road crossings is a safety reduction.
This submission is to request a tunnel or overhead crossing for pedestrians and bicycle riders as a matter of safety. It would also
reduce waiting time for drivers.
Name Withheld
Object
Paterson , New South Wales
Message
Whilst not objecting to the proposal in concept, I do object to the proposed extended operational hours during the construction period with start times moved from 7.00am to 6.00am Mon-Fri. to 6.00am-7.00pm and 7.00 am-5.00pm Saturday.
This will place additional pressure on residents impacted by trucks travelling to the site early morning. In particular, I note Martins Creek Quarry has already applied to extend their operating hours, no doubt with this project in mind.
This will further increase the sleep disruption residents already experience with trucks moving through impacted communities from even earlier from 4.30am

Please ensure if this project is approved the proposed construction hours are kept to a 7.00 am start.
Mark Watts
Object
Paterson , New South Wales
Message
I am writing this to you in reference to Page 6 on Technical Paper 3 - Noise and Vibration Assessment. I object to this time period on the grounds that extended construction hours will place additional pressure on residents already impacted by the as yet unregulated activities of Martins Creek Quarry in Martins Creek, Especially Paterson, Bolwarra & Maitland areas should they win any of the supply contracts.

This project whilst I'm sure necessary for the development of Newcastle will result in the same truck carnage in our area of Paterson and surrounding suburbs like when Daracon won the supply of Hexham. We will directly be impacted by the quarries illegal actions as this will show another case of them breaching the Quarries current supply quota. The main difference here would be even earlier operations and for a much longer period.

PLEASE IF DARACON GET THE JOB, MAKE THEM TAKE IT BY RAIL CLOSER TO NEWCASTLE & THEN LOAD TRUCKS FROM THERE IE HEXHAM INTERCHANGE

MERRY XMAS
Paterson Progress Association
Comment
Paterson , New South Wales
Message
On behalf of the residents of Paterson and immediate surrounds who are already severely impacted by early morning truck movements to Martins Creek Quarry, we ask that the construction hours of this project ARE NOT EXTENDED beyond the standard 7.00am-6.00pm M-F and 8.00-1.00pm on Saturdays
The proposed 6.00 am start would potentially result in trucks travelling to Martins Creek Quarry significantly earlier than currently (5.45am through Paterson). MCQ currently appears to operate unregulated. Dispatching loaded trucks from 5.30am is already on their agenda.
Ursula Watts
Object
Paterson , New South Wales
Message
I refer to Page 6 on Technical Paper 3 - Noise and Vibration Assessment. I object to this proposal on the grounds that extended construction hours will place additional pressure on residents already impacted by the as yet unregulated activities of Martins Creek Quarry in Martins Creek, Mainly Paterson, Bolwarra & Martins Creek areas should they win any of the supply contracts.

This project is necessary for the development of Newcastle, it will result in the same truck destruction in our area of Paterson and surrounding suburbs like when Daracon won the supply of Hexham.

All that live here will be directly impacted by the quarries illegal actions as this will be another case of them breaching the Quarries current supply quota. The main difference here would be even earlier operations and for a much longer period.

PLEASE IF DARACON GET THE JOB, MAKE THEM TAKE IT BY RAIL CLOSER TO NEWCASTLE & THEN LOAD TRUCKS FROM THERE IE HEXHAM INTERCHANGE

MERRY XMAS
Linda Lowndes
Object
Paterson , New South Wales
Message
Please do not permit the proposed extension to construction hours advocating a 6.00am start. Our lives are already plagued by early morning truck traffic to and from Daracon's Martins Creek Quarry.
For residents of Martins Creek, Paterson, Bolwarra and East Maitland this would see truck traffic from 4.30am onwards.

MC Quarry already operates with scant regard to the communities it neighbours and impacts upon. They have indicated a wish to dispatch trucks even earlier than currently from 5.30 am. Now we know why.
Marrianne Peen
Object
Paterson , New South Wales
Message
I am writing this to you in reference to Technical Paper 3 - Noise and Vibration Assessment page 6
I object to this time period on the grounds that extended construction hours will place additional pressure on residents already impacted by the as yet unregulated activities of Martins Creek Quarry in Martins Creek,

Especially Martins Creek, Paterson, Bolwarra & Maitland areas should Daracon supply the Gravel.

This project whilst I'm sure necessary for the development of Newcastle, it will result in the same truck carnage of Paterson and surrounding suburbs. Daracon won the supply of Hexham and this destroyed our way of life. We will directly be impacted by the quarries illegal actions as this will show another case of them breaching the current supply quota. The main difference here would be even earlier operations and for a much longer period.

IF DARACON GET THE JOB, MAKE THEM TAKE IT BY RAIL CLOSER TO NEWCASTLE & THEN LOAD TRUCKS FROM THERE IE HEXHAM INTERCHANGE

Karen Newby
Comment
Paterson , New South Wales
Message
Lets hope Martins Creek Quarry doesn't win this contract to supply gravel and road base. It will be total carnage through the township of Paterson and surrounding areas. With extra early and late truck movements, compounding to all the other road and infrastructure problems that are going on already in the area.
jennifer bishop
Object
PATERSON , New South Wales
Message
extended construction hours will place additional pressure on residents already impacted by the as yet unregulated activities of MCQ should they win any of the supply contracts.
Daracon director David Mingay was found to be corrupt by ICAC and is therefore not a person who can be trusted to comply with existing regulations and true to form he is authorising the company to flout the existing restrictions. The impact on the roads, the businesses and the residents is unrelenting and adverse.
Bailey Rose
Comment
Newcastle , New South Wales
Message
Safer options for pedestrians and cyclists should be explored, such as an elevated walkway / bike path
Allison Garrett
Object
Cooks Hill , New South Wales
Message
I am severly concerned that a perfectly good cycling path is to be cut at the Jesmond end where Newcastle Rd intersects the new bypass and the lack of catering for cyclists on the bypass itself.
The path through Jesmond Park should continue West across the bypass as an underpass or overpass. Many people access Blue Gums rd in Jesmond and south Wallsend and Brickworks Park this way as both commuting cyclists, recreational cyclists, families recreating and also accessing the shops. The termination of the path and the placing of three sets of traffic lights makes it a time consuming and dangerous crossing. Many people will be unable to go this way. The bridge across Newcastle Rd only really gives access for people going North.
On the bypass cyclists will be forced to cross busy traffic lanes in order to use this route.
Both these issues demonstrate a near sighted approach to road design. A separate cycle path like the M7 for the bypass and a continuous cycle path through Jesmond Park to Blue Gums Rd Jesmond as it exists now is the best way.To do anything less will result in limiting access for people for physical recreation at a time when Australia is trying to tackle an obesity academic. It will impact disadvantaged members of the community who do not have a car and will effectively divide communities because of lack of access.

Pagination

Project Details

Application Number
SSI-6888
Assessment Type
State Significant Infrastructure
Development Type
Road transport facilities
Local Government Areas
Newcastle City
Decision
Approved
Determination Date
Decider
Minister
Last Modified By
SSI-6888-Mod-1
Last Modified On
07/02/2022

Contact Planner

Name
Daniel Gorgioski