Cr Peta Pinson encouraged residents to take part in the full consultation program, set to begin in late February, about the orbital road proposal.

Initial community engagement opened in November 2018.

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 mayor said it was the council’s role and responsibility to ensure the area’s growth didn’t impact negatively on residents.

“There is going to be a lot of discussion about the orbital road, there is going to be a lot of discussion about the investigation zone and there is going to be a lot of discussion about is the investigation zone in the right place as well,” she said.

“The only way we are going to understand or know that is by doing these studies, listening to the community and having the consultation.”

The project is in the early stages of development and a final route has yet to be determined.

The proposal would alleviate traffic congestion but has some residents worried about the potential impact on their properties.

“There is an element of the community in a great deal of anxiety over what this could mean,” Cr Pinson said.

The impact on about 470 properties within the investigation corridor is unknown at this stage but could range from increased traffic to noise, property acquisition or benefits due to proximity to the proposed new road link.

The proposed road would not be not a quick fix.

Cr Pinson said there were other pieces of the jigsaw puzzle that needed to be fitted first.

They are the Ocean Drive duplication between Matthew Flinders Drive and Greenmeadows Drive, the review and redesign of the Wrights Road roundabout, a signalised intersection at Sherwood Road/Oxley Highway/Lake Road, and the widening of Lake Road from the Ocean Drive traffic lights to Central Road.

She said another issue in 2019 would be ongoing development and changes to village and towns.

“We as community could look negatively on the growth but we need to also embrace the possibility of what the growth can present,” Cr Pinson said.

Cr Pinson said for her as mayor, 2019 was about bringing the council closer to the community.

“Whatever is in store for us in the Port Macquarie-Hastings region, I think it’s going to be a good year and full of opportunity,” she said.

Cr Pinson said 2019 would be extra special because of the state and federal elections.

When it comes to roads, Port Macquarie-Hastings Council faces an $80 million roads maintenance backlog from the 2017/18 financial year, a document from the NRMA shows.

Cr Pinson said it would be fanciful to think the council could wave a wand and all its roads would be addressed.

Meanwhile, the mayor would like to see a greater allocation in next financial year’s budget for shared pathways.

“There are nine of us representing the interests of the community and I’m confident with the 2019/20 budget we will be certainly campaigning for the things that are important to the community,” Cr Pinson said.

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