1.0 INTRODUCTION

1.1 BACKGROUND On the 18th of September 2009 the Honourable Craig Wallace MP, Minister for Main Roads, announced an independent review of the proposed upgrade of the (Yarraman – ) between chainages 84.3km and 93.987km (Hampton – Geham). Conics was commissioned to undertake this review. The Conics team included the following specialist sub-consultants: . TransPosition Pty Ltd; . Cavaye Community Development Pty Ltd; and . Everick Heritage Consultants Pty Ltd.

The review was undertaken in accordance with Terms of Reference (ToR) issued by the Department of Transport and Main Roads (DTMR) (Appendix A).

This report provides the results of the Independent Review.

The New England Highway forms part of the north - south intra-state route linking northern New South Wales to the and South Burnett and is classified as a State Strategic Road (Main Roads 2004) with the capability to carry B-Double size trucks. The DTMR received funding under the Rural and Regional Roads Funding Initiative (RRRFI) in 2005 for the Yarraman to Toowoomba upgrade to provide an improved road network which will provide safer travel for road users and enhance the attractiveness of this route for road access to tourist destinations between Yarraman and Toowoomba (Main Roads 2004a). The Main Roads business case (required for the funding application for the project) was based on information showing that the existing traffic lane width is too narrow for the volume and mix of vehicles using it (Main Roads 2004).

The Yarraman to Toowoomba project was broken into 3 sections, being: . Crows Nest to Pechey; . Pechey Forest; and . Hampton to Geham.

The upgrade works for Crows Nest to Pechey and Pechey Forest sections have already been delivered.

In broad terms, the current Hampton to Geham upgrade design (approximately 9.6km) includes road widening, shoulder sealing, installation of crash barriers, drainage works and associated tree removal. The proposed upgrade would result in the removal of approximately 1 400 trees from within the road corridor.

A local community group (SAVE – Safe Avenue of Vegetation for Everyone) was formed in July 2009 in response to the proposed Hampton to Geham upgrade. SAVE is a lobby group formed to: . Save human lives; . Save the old-growth, endangered forest; . Save the “High Country’s” iconic drive/brand; and . Save the wildlife that live in this forest and/or use it as a corridor. (http://cathedraldrive.wordpress.com/about/)

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This independent review is a result of representations to the Minister for Main Roads from SAVE and the Greens.

1.2 SCOPE AND PURPOSE OF THE REVIEW Terms of Reference for the Independent Review were released by DTMR. The ToR specifies that the review will consider and assess impacts associated with: . The environment; . Landscape character and visual amenity; . Cultural heritage; . Community engagement; and . Needs of motorists (including aspects associated with safety, design and project priority).

The ToR also specifies that The review will provide a report to the Director General of the Department of Transport and Main Roads recommending whether the project should proceed as currently planned or whether it should proceed in a modified form or not at all.

1.3 REVIEW PROCESS The review process was undertaken in two components: 1. Gathering and analysing existing documentation pertinent to the project; and 2. Engaging stakeholders on issues such as their thoughts on the consultation processes undertaken by Main Roads for the project and preferred options for the road design and construction.

The review was undertaken by a Review Team with expertise on the issues outlined in Section 1.2.

1.3.1 Evidence Gathering The review drew upon a range of published information sources which can generally be grouped as follows: . Project business case and design documentation from Main Roads and their consultants. These documents included information on detailed road design, safety analysis, Environmental Assessments and stakeholder engagement; . Documented information and background materials provided by stakeholders; . Letters and emails to the Minister regarding the project; . Unsolicited written submissions from members of the public during the review process; . Material from the SAVE website (http://cathedraldrive.wordpress.com/about/);

A list of these sources of information is contained in Section 11.0.

While all of this documentation was reviewed and analysed, some of the material was viewed as opinion as opposed to informed technical analysis. Opinion was an important component of the stakeholder engagement review and was assessed accordingly.

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In addition, the Review Team visited the road on a number of occasions to assess a range of matters and/or clarify issues raised during the review of published information.

1.3.2 Stakeholder Contact Stakeholder contact during the review had two main aims:

. To gain feedback about the engagement of stakeholders by DTMR; and . To gain stakeholder views about their preferred options for the road.

It is important to note that stakeholder contact during the review was not intended to be a comprehensive process of re-engagement of stakeholders.

Face to face meetings were held with relevant stakeholders in accordance with the ToR. Individual discussions were held with representatives of:

. The Department of Transport and Main Roads; . Toowoomba Regional Council; . Toowoomba and Golden West Tourism; . SAVE; . Queensland Greens; . Crows Nest and District Tourist and Progress Association Inc.; . Queensland Police Service; . RACQ; . Dorothy Pratt, MLA; . Kerry Shine, MLA; and . Local residents that have expressed concern about the road.

A discussion meeting was held with approximately 20 members of SAVE on 13th February 2010. Numbers were deliberately limited to allow for effective discussion. Immediately following this, an intended meeting with 2-3 local residents that had concerns about the road led to impromptu meeting with approximately 55 people. A number of phone calls and emails were also received.

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