Coffs Harbour Bypass shifts to save endangered shrubs

The Coffs Harbour Bypass project is on track, but a section of the path chosen for the new highway will shift so it skirts past a small cluster of shrubs listed as critically endangered in NSW. What’s happening.

If an excavator lays the groundwork for the new Coffs Harbour highway bypass but no one sees or hears it, does that mean it’s actually working?

That situation saw a posse of politicians front the media at Korora on Monday to assure that all is “on track” and “on time” for the $2.2 billion project.

The local rumour mill has been in overdrive that the bypass was either a figment, not fully funded and/or desperately behind schedule.

The scuttlebutt has been in part because much of the preliminary works are on land not in public view.

So Regional Transport and Roads Minister Sam Farraway and local MPs Pat Conaghan (federal) and Gurmesh Singh (state) talked up the progress at a press conference held in the base yard for the northern section of the bypass.

There were some headline checkpoints:

* $40 million has already been spent on the preliminary works, with more than 160 contracts awarded.

* An announcement on the successful head contractor for the new highway build is expected in about eight weeks.

Project director Greg Nash revealed that four threatened plant species had been identified in the path of the new road: rusty plum, slender marsdenia, pittosporum and coastal fontainia.

While efforts are being made to “translocate” and establish “back up communities” of these plants, a cluster of critically endangered coastal fontainia triggered a decision to actually shift the intended footprint for the pavement.

Coffs Harbour Bypass project director Greg Nash and regional director for Transport Anna Zycki. Picture: Chris Knight

Mr Nash said the highway would be moved “about 10 metres” from the original plan to protect 38 coastal fontainia which would be protected in an exclusion zone.

Mr Farraway said while Covid and the extended wet had proven a challenge, the project was on course to open to traffic in late 2026, and completion the year following.

“When you build legacy infrastructure it’s never easy, that’s why it’s legacy infrastructure,” he said.

“Four packages of building work have already been awarded to local building contractors Tisdell Constructions, Wilk Construction and PKN Constructions.

“The four packages will allow for at-home noise treatment for some of the 619 properties identified, with additional packages to be awarded over the next two years.”

Cowper MP Pat Conaghan said the Commonwealth and state-funded bypass would provide enormous benefits to the Coffs Harbour region during construction and ongoing opportunities once delivered.

“Much of the work we have done so far is out of the community’s view, but there has been plenty going on,” Mr Conaghan said.

Preliminary works have included relocating 1.4 kilometres of Essential Energy services, 2.5km of water mains and 11.8km of telecommunication cables.

“Work is about to start on relocating water mains, power and telecommunication lines south of Englands Road to Stadium Drive, along Coramba Road, and in the Korora region between James Small Drive, Opal Cove Golf Course and Coachmans Close to Beachview Drive,” Mr Conaghan said.

“More than 60 structures need to be removed for the build to start and at least half of those are already gone.”

For state Coffs Harbour MP Gurmesh Singh the project is all about the number 12 - and he predicted the city would “come to life” when it is bypassed.

“The bypass will shave nearly 12 minutes off travel time, remove 12 sets of traffic lights and keep 12,000 vehicles out of the CBD each day,” Mr Singh said.

Transport regional director Anna Zycki said a few hundred workers were already on the tools, and the project labour force would peak at 600-plus.