The controversial Port Macquarie orbital road proposal is off the table.
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Port Macquarie-Hastings Council agreed to discontinue any investigations, planning and funding for new roads within the orbital road corridor that significantly and unreasonably affects homes, businesses, clubs and land owners within the corridor, as well as the wider visual amenity.
The terms orbital road and orbital road corridor will be removed from all infrastructure-related planning documents being developed now and in the future.
It comes just over three years after the council released the orbital road investigation corridor for community engagement.
Affected residents were vocal in their opposition to the proposed orbital road project, citing environmental, social and financial implications.
The council in mid-2019 moved to develop a strategic business case examining long-term solutions, including orbital road options, to address traffic issues.
Mayor Peta Pinson brought the orbital road issue to an extraordinary council meeting on Thursday (January 13).
Deputy mayor Adam Roberts raised a way forward that expanded on the mayor's motion.
Read more:
- 2021 council elections: Orbital road corridor, roads and traffic management
- Residents live with ongoing uncertainty amid future road planning
- Council pushes forward leaving all orbital road options in play
- Orbital road protesters pass vote of no confidence in council
- Residents win fight for Fernhill Road but concerns remain
Cr Roberts said the council was making a strong and strategic move and taking the cloud away from affected residents.
He said the orbital road had always been a pie in the sky project without funding and without political support.
Cr Roberts said the council was very much committed to dealing with the significant traffic issues for the local government area.
The council will continue to prioritise individual road upgrades, duplications and links across the area, other than in the orbital road corridor, that will work towards mitigating traffic congestion as part of broader strategies and planning.
Cr Pinson described the orbital road corridor as a "real furphy" for our community.
"It is no surprise that I continue to support removing this off the table once and for all," she said.
"We need to right a wrong that was done.
"There were four Christmases that our community suffered with this hanging over their heads, so let 2022 be the Christmas that they actually have without this worry of their homes being demolished in way for a corridor to move our traffic around."
She said the decision gave the community confidence that the council was committed to looking at achievable alternates.
Cr Rachel Sheppard raised an amendment in a bid to defer the orbital road matter to the February council meeting after a councillor briefing. The amendment was lost.
She spoke against the motion put forward by Cr Roberts.
Cr Sheppard said apart from the perspective of requiring the full information to make a good decision, her concern was the motion didn't achieve what she believed it was intended to achieve into the future.
Cr Nik Lipovac said he fully understood the anxiety and uncertainty surrounding the orbital road corridor but it was a massive issue for the future of the Hastings community.
He wanted the matter deferred but ultimately voted in favour of the decision.
An amendment put toward by Cr Lauren Edwards was lost, and when the motion was put to the vote, Cr Edwards abstained.
The decision was carried seven votes to one with mayor Peta Pinson and councillors Sharon Griffiths, Lisa Intemann, Nik Lipovac, Danielle Maltman, Adam Roberts, and Josh Slade in favour, and Cr Rachel Sheppard voting against.
The councillors will be briefed on the matters at the earliest possible opportunity.
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