Princes Highway upgrade

2012 Southern bypass review

Roads and Maritime Services (RMS) is undertaking a cost review of a suggested southern route for the Berry bypass.

This review follows a request from the Member for Kiama to investigate the robustness of the estimates and assumptions which informed a decision to discontinue planning investigations into a bypass south of Berry.

COST REVIEW

The review tests the feasibility of a southern route when compared against the preferred northern alignment. The relative costs will help RMS and the NSW Government consider whether further investigations and consultation are necessary for the suggested southern bypass route. If a decision is made by the Minister to proceed further, community consultation will continue through the environmental assessment planning process.

To view or download a fact sheet on costing, go to the review documents page.

COSTS AND COMMUNITY IDEAS

RMS welcomes all community interest in this project. RMS will relay community ideas and concerns to relevant experts as part of the cost review of the suggested southern bypass route.

Plain English descriptions of all community feedback, ideas and concerns received by RMS are outlined in a regularly updated issues and actions register. This register also includes an outcomes section to ensure there is a record of findings made. This record will inform the decision making process.

As part of this ongoing process RMS is costing issues in the context of large or minor cost impacts. Any identified as having a potential large cost impact are flagged for priority review.

RMS philosophy is to address issues raised by the community now rather than at the end of the project.

This enhances the robustness and transparency of the process.

To view these suggestions, click here.

If you have further cost suggestions, please emailfoxgroundandberrybypass@rms.nsw.gov.au.

Geotechnical surveys and analysis

Key information required for the review relies on comprehensive geotechnical surveys and analysis. This work has been hampered by the current seasonal wet weather conditions. Subject to weather delays, RMS is aiming to complete the like-for-like comparison of costs for the preferred northern bypass alignment and the suggested southern bypass route as soon as possible. To view or download a fact sheet on the geotechnical surveys and analysis, go to the review documents page.

Technical Investigation Group

A technical investigation group is investigating a suggested southern bypass route for Berry to produce a robust strategic cost estimate. The technical investigation group does not have responsibility for a route decision.

Independent review

An independent investigation of the southern Berry bypass cost review is also being undertaken.
This comprises a twofold check carried out by:

  • An internal RMS review team that is totally separate from the project and the technical investigation group.
  • An external independent reviewer (SMEC).

The scope of the independent reviewing team covers testing the robustness of information to be published in the report prepared by the technical investigation group.  In doing so, the reviewers will:

  • Have access to all information sources the technical investigation group has used.
  • Be able to request meetings with any members of the technical investigation group to investigate and potentially challenge assumptions made.
  • Produce an independent report on the information contained in the technical investigation group report (for publication on the project website when available).

To maximise their input, the reviewers will be able to attend technical investigation group meetings, community meetings and any other meetings as required during the investigation process.

Revised suggested southern Berry bypass route Revised suggested southern Berry bypass route Preliminary suggested southern Berry bypass suggested route