About 470 properties fall within the proposed Port Macquarie orbital road investigation corridor.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The impact on those 470 properties is unknown at this stage.
It could range from increased traffic to noise, property acquisition or benefits due to close access to the proposed new road link.
Port Macquarie-Hastings Council says it will be working closely with residents, businesses and the wider community throughout the planning process to achieve the best outcome for all.
The orbital road is proposed as an east-west link (Ocean Drive to Oxley Highway), a north-south link (Oxley Highway to Boundary Street) and a flood-free route to the Port Macquarie Airport.
The council opened community consultation about the orbital road on November 22 with teams providing preliminary information to residents within the investigation corridor.
An orbital road page has been launched on the council’s Have Your Say website.
The road link would alleviate significant congestion, particularly on Lake Road, Ocean Drive and the Oxley Highway.
The council voted unanimously at its November 21 meeting to roll out community engagement for the proposed orbital road.
Mayor Peta Pinson said the council totally understood the announcement was going to create a level of anxiety and stress for some people.
“It’s our commitment to ensure that factual information is delivered to the community, that our consultation is thorough, honest and transparent, and we undertake this process empathetically, especially towards those who are possibly going to be affected,” she said.
The council noted the orbital road benefits including the provision of a safe and efficient connection for more than 20,000 residents a day, removing through traffic from the inner Port Macquarie area including the Lake Road industrial area.
The proposed new road would also reduce travel times and overall travel distances.
Cr Pinson said: “I think council needs to be courageous at the moment in moving forward because this orbital road will ensure our traffic congestion will be alleviated as we move our population growth in excess of 100,000 people.”
The proposed orbital road project would require significant government funding.
The orbital road would improve connectivity with key business and economic hubs including the airport, the future expanded airport business park and the growing Health and Education Precinct around the Port Macquarie Base Hospital and Charles Sturt University.
Port Macquarie Chamber of Commerce president Michael Mowle said the chamber thought it was wonderful the council was going out to community consultation.
He said an orbital road’s strategic location was important and a flood-free and relatively high-speed access road link to the airport was key for business.
The council has completed a number of early studies into the potential route options for an orbital road and identified the most viable route, however, as the project is in the early stages of development and the approval process is yet to begin, the final route is yet to be determined.
The route options have been assessed for potential impacts to the environment, property, community and existing infrastructure.
The community’s feedback will influence the council’s decision on the final route option.
Cr Pinson said the council would keep residents, businesses and property owners informed about the project and potential future impacts.
There will be community pop-up sessions, launching in February 2019, to provide detailed information on the proposed orbital road route, gather feedback and answer questions.
What else is making news?
While you're with us, you can now receive updates straight to your inbox from the Port Macquarie News. To make sure you're up to date with all the news, SIGN UP HERE.