Riverside town has been bypassed, but B-doubles still cause headaches

Now that Woodburn is bypassed, the council is splashing cash to make it better than ever. But concerns have been raised about the old highway’s classification as a B-double route, and whether it can be changed.

Woodburn's main street, post-bypass.

It’s coming up to a year since a new section of the Pacific Highway opened to traffic, bypassing Woodburn and Broadwater.

But discussions are still under way between Richmond Valley Council and Transport for NSW about who will be responsible for the old highway ‒ an important issue as the council works on projects to beautify Woodburn.

A report to this week’s council meeting explained the future ownership of the road will determine how it is classified, and the way it is developed to complement the shopping strip and riverside park.

“Key to any proposed works will remain the reclassification of the road,” the report states.

“If the road remains under state control as a regional road, any elements of the concept streetscape design will need to cater for B-double freight traffic.”

This point caught the attention of several councillors.

Concept ideas from the Woodburn masterplan.

Cr Daniel Simpson said the idea of allowing B-doubles to continue to use the old highway concerned him greatly.

“It’s something I was unaware of until now,” he said.

“I don’t know if the future of Woodburn town needs to include B-doubles.

Cr Robert Hayes agreed, and said he was “pretty surprised” about the situation.

“It’s imperative that doesn’t happen,” he said.

“We don’t want the B-doubles coming down there after all the beautification work and what the street could be in the future.”

The council’s general manager, Vaughan Macdonald, said it was a fair point.

“We need to have a look at all those different (truck) movements and minimise the impacts on the residential areas in the Woodburn CBD,” he said.

“We need to do some of the traffic studies to make an informed decisions around (whether) it need to be a B double route.”

Mr Macdonald said the main issue would be to ensure cane trucks could still easily and safely access the sugar mill.

Concept ideas from the Woodburn masterplan.

However he also acknowledged the desire of the community and business owners to revitalise the main street and create a vibrate CBD precinct.

NSW Regional Transport and Roads Minister, Paul Toole, wrote to the council about the issue earlier this month.

“Transport for NSW would be pleased to work with council to identify opportunities for potential improvements through Woodburn to support local businesses,” his letter stated.

But so far no funding has been committed, and classification of the road has not been determined.

In the meantime, the council plans to conduct studies about traffic movements, retail demand and habits, pedestrian movements and type of through traffic.

Community members and business owners will be consulted about the masterplan for Woodburn.

This masterplan will be costed out, and the council will explore grant opportunities.