In November 2005, the former Minister for Roads asked the Roads and Traffic Authority (RTA) to review an alternative inland transport corridor to the Pacific Highway. A report on this review has now been finalised.
The NSW Government considers that upgrading the Pacific Highway to a high-standard, four-lane highway will provide the most cost-effective solution compared to an inland corridor. Simply, upgrading the Pacific Highway corridor is an investment in road infrastructure where traffic volumes and community need is greatest.
The NSW Government will not proceed any further with investigations of an inland corridor.
An alternative inland corridor
Requires funds to be split between two corridors - the Pacific Highway would still require safety improvements.
- Would require tunnels over 1.7 kilometres long. Critical issues are whether trucks containing dangerous or flammable goods would have to continue to use the Pacific Highway; how air would be expelled from tunnels; and if filtration would be required.
Longer travel times.
More expensive for trucks to use the steeper grades.
Trucks likely to remain on the Pacific Highway.
Noise and amenity problems still exist on the Pacific Highway AND now on an inland alternative.
An option for a bypass immediately to the east of Grafton could have flooding consequences.
Impact on 39 to 51 kilometres of prime agricultural land.
Over 480 properties wholly acquired or part of the property acquired.
Limited opportunities for staging construction - funds need to be taken from other government services and infrastructure.
Was shown in 1992 to not have merit.
Is not affordable.
The Pacific Highway
Is where populations are growing - a high standard transport corridor is badly needed.
Coastal communities will need supplies and goods - some trucks will need to use the Pacific Highway.
Investing in the Pacific Highway is the most cost-effective way to address safety and traffic flow.
Upgrading meets the needs of 289,000 people by 2031 (64,400 more people moving to the far north coast from 2006 to 2031).
Engineering constraints
Alternative A would require 3 tunnels with approximate total length of 2.9 km while Alternative B would require 2 tunnels with total approximate length of 1.7 km.
Agricultural impacts
Alternative A would have significant impacts on rural holdings between Casino and Ewingsdale. Between 39 and 47 kilometres of farming land would need to be acquired. For Alternative B would have signigicant impacts on rural holdings between Casino and Tyagarah. Between 48 and 51 kilometres of farming land would need to be acquired.
Property and social impacts
There would be impacts on both urban and rural communities in terms of acquisition, noise, visual impacts and a reduction in amenity. There would be continued engine brake noise from vehicles using St Helena Hill near Byron Bay.
Ecological impacts
Inland alternatives would impact on pockets of native vegetation. At least 30 threatened plant species are likely to be present in bush areas.
Inland Corridor alternative to the Pacific Highway
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