Moruya bypass: Residents says Transport NSW ‘rushed’ on bypass route

In scenes reminiscent of The Castle, residents on the south coast say they will stand their ground after the state government announced the route of a huge bypass - straight through their farms.

In scenes reminiscent of the iconic Australian movie The Castle, south coast residents say they will stand their ground after Transport NSW announced a controversial route through their homes for a new bypass.

Moruya resident of 34 years, Yvonne Matthews, said the government has selected the “longest, ugliest, most expensive and most polluting option” for the long-awaited Moruya bypass on the Princes Highway.

A spokeswoman for the Moruya Bypass Action Group broke down in tears as she said many residents were at breaking point after receiving phone calls from Transport NSW this week confirming the controversial route.

While the group support the construction of a bypass, they disagree with the selected route, saying it will destroy the unique community feel of the town and force many locals off properties.

The spokeswoman said the group will continue to fight against the chosen route, which will run south from the North Moruya industrial area to Congo Road.

“I’m devastated,” she said.

“I’m so emotional. People’s lives are being turned upside down by these bureaucrats.”

Moruya beef farmer Peter Collett says his business will be ruined by the new bypass.

The spokeswoman said residents were “washed out” after the Black Summer bushfires and have been further “traumatised” by news of the government’s preferred route.

“Some people have developed serious illnesses and there are very worrying mental health signs,” the spokeswoman said.

“I’m very worried about people.”

Public consultation on the project finished at the end of June, and the spokeswoman said there has not been enough time for the community’s feedback to be assessed.

“Why is this project barrelling ahead with their preferred route? It doesn’t make sense,” she said.

“It’s not like there aren’t other options for the bypass. Other options don’t impact as many homes, agricultural land or the environment.

“I’m sitting here wondering what we can do to stall this process.”

The chosen route for the bypass can be seen in orange. Picture: Transport NSW

Moruya beef farmer Peter Collett, who received a phone call from Transport NSW this week, says his business could be completely destroyed if the chosen highway bypass route goes ahead through his farm.

Peter Collett, 74, runs an 80 hectare beef farm right in the middle of the selected route. Some of the most fertile agricultural land in the region.

Mr Collett said department has been conducting online meetings with impacted landowners this week due to COVID-19 restrictions in Sydney.

“They have a few options of exactly where this route go but there is hardly any difference between any of them on our place,” Mr Collett said.

“As far as I know there hasn’t been any test drilling yet to see if the land can hold the bridge up, and no adequate environmental assessment.

“They have chosen the most expensive option, so the government must have money to burn.

“Shouldn’t they be saving money and putting it into the highway further south, which is substandard in many way.”

Mr Collett said he was expecting a route to be chosen later this year, and was shocked to receive the call just weeks after the end of the consultation process.

“Nobody can understand why there is such a rush,” he said.

“We were expecting the call much later this year.”

Eurobodalla councillor Jack Tait said the bypass should take the most direct route.

“I’ve looked at all the plans and I don’t understand why they don’t take the direct route, because the proposed route is very ambitious,” he said.

“We still don’t know when it will start or how much it will cost.”

The Moruya Bypass Action Group say the route will destroy the unique feel of the town.

A spokesman for Transport NSW said the decision for the direction of the bypass was made following a strategic assessment process involving community consultation in March.

“A community consultation summary report is being finalised which will respond to recent feedback and explain the next steps on the project,” they said.

“Ongoing consultation is taking place with owners and tenants to help identify ways to minimise property impacts while determining more detailed features for the bypass design, including the location and design of the north and south connections and the exact route of the bypass.

“Transport for NSW is committed to consulting closely with nearby landowners and tenants and keeping them informed throughout the project’s development.

“Attempts were made to contact all owners and tenants within and near the preferred corridor before the announcement in May and Transport for NSW has kept in contact with owners and tenants throughout and since recent consultation.

“The community will have further opportunities to have their say and provide feedback on the preferred option, concept design and environmental assessment as the project progresses,” they said.