Coffs Harbour Bypass: Minister approves $1.8B ‘State Significant’ bypass project

NSW Planning Minister Rob Stokes has given the green light for the construction of the $1.8 billion Coffs Harbour Bypass project.

The Coffs Harbour Bypass

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A determination on the long-awaited approval for one of the state’s most critical pieces of road infrastructure, the Coffs Harbour Bypass, has been made by NSW Planning Minister Rob Stokes.

The approval for the $1.8 billion project lays to rest decades of discussions about the viability of the project, and answers the repeated calls from the community to help ease the choke on traffic that other Pacific Highway towns have been gifted during recent upgrades.

The Coffs Harbour Bypass showing the Korora Hill Interchange.

The 14km stretch of four-lane divided highway will include the construction of three tunnels between Englands Rd in the south to Sapphire in the north.

The tunnels, which was the preferred community option over road cuttings, will be built at Roberts Hill, Shephards Lane and Gatleys Rd.

The tunnels range in length of between 190 metres and 450 metres.

The project is being funded by both State and Federal Governments, and has been identified as Critical State Significant Infrastructure (CSSI) under the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979.

It will be the latest upgrade to the long-running renewal of the Pacific Highway, which aims to provide dual carriageway conditions between Hexham and the Queensland border as part of the Pacific Highway Upgrade.

The determination report noted that the bypass would increase the reliability of journey times, particularly during peak travel periods and improve road safety by removing through traffic and some local traffic from the existing road network.

It will also increase road capacity to cater for increasing traffic volumes and future traffic volumes, as well as improve accessibility of and amenity along the existing Pacific Highway.

Overall, the notice stated, the project will provide benefits across the road network, particularly through the removal of through traffic along the existing Pacific Highway and local intersections.

Coffs Harbour Pacific Highway Bypass will include three tunnels.

A south-north illustration of the project

The project has been designed in consideration of surrounding residents and schools and it will provide a safer road for motorists, cyclists and pedestrians.

The Federal Government has committed to funding 80 per cent of the $1.8 billion project, with the balance falling to the State Government to fund.

The Morrison Government announced a $490.6m cash injection in 2020 Federal Budget, which ensured the last major section of the Pacific Highway upgrade would be delivered.

NSW Planning Minister Rob Stokes. Pic: NCA NewsWire/Flavio Brancaleone

The Prime Minister previously said shovel-ready projects such as the Coffs Harbour Bypass would create more than 8000 jobs across NSW and kickstart NSW’s beleaguered economy on the back of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We have been working closely with state and territory governments to invest in the infrastructure that is ready to go and can help rebuild our economy and create more jobs,” he said.

“These projects will keep commuters safe on the road, get people home to their loved ones sooner and provide better transport links for urban and regional communities.”

A Community Consultative Committee (CCC) has been established by Transport for NSW for the project to provide a forum for discussion with representatives of the Coffs Harbour community, stakeholder groups and the local council on issues directly relating to the project.