Route options for outer link roads open for community comment

Friday 30 November 2007

Route options for the Port Macquarie 'outer link' roads will be on public exhibition from next Monday, December 3rd. The need for a long-term traffic solution has driven Council's decision to select two preferred options for public comment. On display will be plans for an east-west link between Ocean Drive and Major Innes Drive involving a Kooloonbung Creek crossing of the Innes Nature Reserve. Council also prefers a north-south link between the Oxley Highway and Hastings River Drive running west of the Port Macquarie airport.

Consultants ERM have prepared a route options assessment report, together with landowner comments and the recommendations from a Value Management Workshop held during August 2006.

Port Macquarie-Hastings Mayor Rob Drew says it is a complex task to select preferred options.

"Narrowing down route options requires consideration of the best overall balance between social, economic, engineering and ecological factors. We now would like the wider community, including affected landowners and interest groups to have their say on the preferred route options as well as all options examined to date," said Mayor Drew.

The public exhibition will be open between 9:00am and 4:00pm Monday to Friday from Monday 3 December 3 through to 15 February at Council's Port Macquarie offices. Community members are encouraged to visit the display and comment on the proposed options.

"Information and maps will be displayed, along with details on how community members can lodge their views. A community information session is also being planned for later in January. Council will consider all feedback from the exhibition and further review the best options before proceeding with the next phase of the link road project," said Cliff Toms, Technical Services Manager for Port Macquarie-Hastings Council.

See our On Exhibition webpage.