‘Not in my lifetime’ has been the long-held response to talk of a Tenterfield bypass and many have certainly passed on in the six decades of discussion. Some serious effort, however, is now being invested in spending the federal government’s $10 million allocation for bypass planning.
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Meetings between Roads and Maritime Services (RMS) staff, local politicians and community groups were held this week while contractors approached as many CBD businesses as possible to record their feelings on the project.
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In addition to statistical data businesses were asked whether they thought their establishment would prosper or decline once the heavy vehicle bypass was operational, while accomodation prospects for incoming workers during the construction stage are also being assessed.
Member for Lismore Thomas George said the RMS is carrying out the field investigations as part of the environmental assessment aspect of the project.
“Arcadis Australia Pacific Pty Ltd were engaged earlier this year to carry out planning work, which involves developing the design and review of environmental factors (REF) for the project.”
He said a socio economic assessment will include conducting a number of surveys with businesses and shoppers, including meetings with key stakeholders such as council and the local chamber of Tourism, Industry and Business.
The information collected will form part of the REF for the project which will be displayed later this year or early 2019. The design is also being developed and will also form part of the REF display.
Federal Member for New England, Barnaby Joyce, welcomed the preliminary work on the bypass which will remove heavy vehicles from Tenterfield’s main street.
“With this assessment, which is part of the Australian Government’s $10 million funding package for bypass design delivering on our 2016 election commitment, we’re another step closer to providing safer streets in Tenterfield and building our corridor of commerce with faster freight solutions along the New England Highway,” Mr Joyce said.
The project includes about 4.5 kilometres of new road that starts just north of Tenterfield Creek Bridge on the southern edge of town, runs west of the railway corridor and re-joins the existing New England Highway near Cowper Street, north of Tenterfield.
Timing for building the bypass will depend on funding availability. Funding for construction has not been committed at this stage.
