Councillor explains why council opposed the bypass plan

Why Coffs Harbour City councillors felt they needed to take a stand against the State Government over the Coffs Harbour Bypass design.

An artist's impression of the Coffs Harbour Pacific Highway Bypass. Picture: RMS

COFFS Harbour councillors have made a highly visible stand against the State Government's proposed Coffs Harbour Bypass design, signposting its call for tunnels on the highway over the holiday period.

Since the council voted to reallocate funds from its community and advertising budgets towards a community bypass campaign in November, it has been questioned why the council has used ratepayers funds to embroil itself in a State Government issue.

Some have asked whether "council is wasting ratepayer money".

While others have praised the community's elected leaders for making a stand.

Today Coffs Harbour City councillor Paul Amos has defended the decision to stage the campaign, saying the cutting will industrialise the community for no good reason.

An artist impression of the land bridge proposed for Roberts Hill in the concept plans released by the RMS.

"These cuts will be nearly four football fields wide into solid rock, destroying family farms that have been there for generations as well as natural habitats," Cr Amos said.

"There are two options of design before us and one is far superior to the other.

"The damage caused by the wrong decision is significant and irreversible. This is a forever decision."

Coffs Harbour City councillor Paul Amos explains why the council has made a stand against the State Government's Coffs Harbour Bypass concept design. Picture: Trevor Veale

While Cr Amos recognises the community sentiment against the campaign, he believes tunnels are the best option for the community and must be fought for.

"With the discussions in the paper in the past few weeks, some people may be thinking 'why are you councillors fighting so hard for a bypass with tunnels and not accepting the change to an open cut option?'

"Simply, the open cut option will have far more negative social, economic and environmental impacts that we can't ignore," he said.

An artist's impression of the Coffs Harbour Bypass. Picture: RMS

"Make no mistake, the bypass will happen as scheduled, it must. There are many tens of millions of dollars of investment and skilled workers that need the continuity of work."

Prior to the council's decision to mount a campaign, The Advocate conducted a poll of over 1000 votes which found that 76% of voters supported tunnels, 20% supported cuttings and 2% were undecided.

Voice your opinion on council's decision to fund a campaign against the current bypass design below: