MEETING NOTES
Name of meeting:
Sapphire to Woolgoolga highway upgrade community information session
Location of meeting:
Emerald Beach site compound training room from 10.30am to 11.30am.
Meeting facilitator:
Janice Smith
Date: 30 November 2013 Time:10.30am-11.30am
Attendees:
NSW Roads and Maritime Services (RMS) has engaged Leighton Contractors and Fulton Hogan to design
and construct the 25 kilometre Sapphire to Woolgoolga Pacific Highway upgrade.
The session provided an update about the roadwork, as well as information about traffic management.
Emerald site compound training room - 10.30am –
11.30am
A recent newspaper edition reported a budget “blowout” on the project. Is the current concrete
remediation works responsible for this and will this
“blow-out” affect final delivery of the project?
The budget increase is not due to the current concrete
remediation works on the bypass. The project will still
be delivered according to the design.
What is the timeline for the project delivery going
forward?
The project is on track to be in final stages by the
second half of 2014. When the dual carriageways
open to traffic between Sapphire and south
Woolgoolga there will still be a need to manage traffic
to enable placement of stone mastic asphalt and final
linemarking.
What will be done to address any damage done to
local service roads by project vehicles?
Repairs will be undertaken to remediate those
sections of road affected.
How are the predictions of noise levels validated?
Once the dual carriageways are open to traffic and
running in their final configuration, a post-completion
operational noise assessment will be carried out. The
outcome of this assessment will be used to guide any
further noise mitigation measures, if necessary.
How will noise sampling locations be determined?
A noise consultant will be engaged and locations
determined based on previous studies.
Will the local service road have an asphalt surface?
It may in some sections where it has currently been
used for highway traffic. The remainder will be a spray
seal finish.
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If the operational noise assessment confirms the
predicted noise levels but the community still won’t
accept them, what options are available?
There are avenues through which the issue can be
raised, however noise mitigation is designed to
comply with the project’s conditions of approval.
How far does the noise wall in the southern section of
the project extend?
It extends from Coachmans Close up to a point just
south of the Nautilus entrance. It then resumes
northward from the Nautilus entrance along the
western edge of the old highway (now the local road)
to a point several hundred metres south of Split
Solitary Road.
The new noise wall at the southern end of the project
has removed the ocean view for passing motorists.
The installation of the noise walls complies with
regulatory requirements for the highway upgrade.
Noise is now echoing off the retaining walls
constructed along the new alignment and increasing
noise levels. What can be done about this?
Once the dual carriageways are open to traffic and
running in their final configuration, a post-completion
operational noise assessment will be carried out. The
outcome of this assessment will be used to guide any
further noise mitigation measures, if necessary.
Can community members still lodge noise issues so
that they can be taken into consideration.
Any issues raised here will be recorded and
considered.
Will the earthern mound which was removed at the
Graham Drive south intersection be replaced to
provide some noise reduction?
Once the dual carriageways are open to traffic and
running in their final configuration, a post-completion
operational noise assessment will be carried out. The
outcome of this assessment will be used to guide any
further noise mitigation measures, if necessary.
Does the project have a remediation budget?
The project must comply with regulatory authority
requirements and quality control specifications set out
in the project design. This is not affected by budget.
There were concerns raised over the level of
illumination of some overhead lights at new
roundabouts and bridges.
While each location can be looked at and assessed
individually, there is always going to be a need to
strike a balance between safety and community
impacts.
When will all the ramps at the Moonee Beach
overpass be completed and operational?
All ramps will be commissioned for use once traffic is
switched onto the new dual carriageways, sometime
in the second half of 2014.
How long will the current access into Moonee Beach
just to the south of the shopping centre remain in
use?
There is a proposal to shut down the temporary link
and intersection with the highway early in 2014 and for
northbound traffic to access the Moonee Beach
overpass via the Wakelands Road intersection and
service road. Southbound traffic will be able to access
the overpass and Moonee Beach using the current
exit ramp.
A property specific drainage issue was raised in
relation to stated 1 in a 100 flood levels.
The issue was deferred to discussion with the property
owner at the conclusion of the meeting.
The signage for traffic wanting to exit the old Pacific
Highway (now the local service road) and travel
towards Coffs Harbour is not very clear.
The construction contractor noted this comment and
undertook to look into the matter.
Can anything be done to improve the look of the noise
walls?
In some instances plantings are used to soften the
look of the noise walls however it does take time for
the plants to establish.
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The northbound turn into Hunter Close is difficult
because of the shortness of the deceleration lane and
due to lack of lighting at night. The pavement at this
intersection is also breaking up.
The current intersection is only temporary and helps to
provide access for traffic in and out of the Sapphire
residential area. The deceleration lane does meet
design requirements. Prior to Christmas, the
intersection will be repaired with an asphalt overlay to
improve its durability.
Signage at Bucca Road and Killara Avenue is
confusing.
The contractor undertook to review this issue.
Have speed limits been determined for the new
highway and service road?
The ultimate speed of the new highway will be
110km/h however this will only be implemented on
completion of the project. The speed limit on the local
service road has not yet been determined.
Signage at Crystal Drive and Headlands Road near
the bridge is confusing.
The contractor undertook to review this issue.
Pedestrian access along Crystal Drive to access the
bridge and shops is very limited due the works being
carried out.
This will be rectified prior to Christmas.
Can Crystal Drive have a continuous centre line to
help keep vehicles on their own side of the road and
hence avoid accidents?
The contractor undertook to review this issue.
The traffic controllers are often holding traffic for very
long periods.
The contractor undertook to review this issue.
Regarding the cycleway strategy, some areas
designated for development between North Sapphire
and Moonee Beach are too narrow to accomodate a
separated cycle facility.
RMS is currently looking at ways to extend the width
available.
Arrawarra Creek bridge is too narrow to
accommodate a separated cycle facility.
This is a design issue which will be reviewed.
What about the safety of children going to school
along the local service road?
At project completion, the old highway will be re
linemarked and a separated cycleway delineated. The
community will be engaged for comment early in
2014.
A community member presented a visual presentation
showing how a separated cycleway could be created
by changing linemarking on the local road pavement.
It was noted that this represented what was trying to
be achieved where possible.
CanRMS confirm that the separated cycleway will
only be on one side of the local road network.
This is a design issue and is still being determined.
Given that the funding for the cycleway is to be jointly
shared by RMS and Coffs City Council, has RMS
committed to the funding split?
Yes
Cycleway access to Sandy Beach Primary School will
be difficult if the cycleway is located on the northern
side of Graham Drive south.
This is a design issue and is still being determined.
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Why is the stop sign at the Sugarmill Road
intersection with the service road facing service road
traffic?
For safety reasons because of the change in cross fall
of the temporary pavement at the intersection.
Community information session at the Emerald site compound closed at 11.30am.
For further information please contact the toll free line or visit the project website (see details below).
Sapphire to Woolgoolga upgrade
PO Box 9090, Moonee Beach NSW 2450
Community information centre, Fiddaman Road, Emerald
Beach, (Mon - Fri, 8:30 - 5pm)
www.rta.nsw.gov.au/pacific I T 1800 63 63 63 (toll fee)
This project is funded by the Australian and NSW governments
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