Gerringong to Bomaderry Princes Highway upgrade ROUTE OPTIONS SUBMISSIONS REPORT SEPTEMBER 2008 ISBN 978-1-921474-53-8 RTA/Pub. 08.318 Not used Gerringong to Bomaderry Princes Highway upgrade Submissions Report September 2008 / Maunsell Australia Pty Ltd Not used Gerringong to Bomaderry Princes Highway upgrade Submissions Report September 2008 / Maunsell Australia Pty Ltd Table of contents Glossary 97 Executive summary i 1.0 Introduction 1 List of Tables 1.1 Background 1 Table 1.1 Project schedule overview 1 1.2 Progress to date 1 Table 3.1 Communications with the community and stakeholders during the display period 11 1.2.1 Peer review 1 Table 4.1 Overview of community perceptions regarding the values and challenges for the area 14 1.2.2 Project schedule 1 Table 5.1 Submissions received from the community and stakeholders 17 1.3 Study area and options 2 Table 5.2 Geographical locations of submissions 18 1.4 Project objectives 2 Table 6.1 Functional issues 19 2.0 Consultation Program 7 Table 6.2 Environmental issues 41 2.1 Consultation program overview 7 Table 6.3 Economic issues 55 2.1.1 Consultation program objectives 7 Table 6.4 Social issues 67 2.1.2 Consultation program tools 7 Table 6.5 Process issues 81 2.1.3 Consultation program implementation to date 8 3.0 Options display period consultation activities 9 3.1 Informing the community 9 Table of Figures 3.1.1 Advertisements 9 Figure 1.1 Short-listed options (continued opposite) 4 3.1.2 Static displays 9 Figure 3.1 The project team conducted potentially directly affected property owner interviews 10 3.1.3 Route Options Development Report 9 Figure 3.2 Forums were conducted with potentially directly affected property owners 10 3.1.4 Community update 9 Figure 4.1 Indication of the Orange and modified Orange route 15 3.1.5 Mail-outs 9 3.2 Engaging the community 9 3.2.1 Feedback form 9 3.2.2 Project office 10 3.2.3 Project website 10 3.2.4 Toll free community information line 10 3.2.5 Staffed displays 10 3.2.6 Potentially directly affected property owner interviews and forums 10 3.2.7 Interest group meetings 11 3.2.8 Community information sessions 11 3.2.9 Targeted focus group workshops 11 3.3 Community and stakeholder participation in options display 11 4.0 Value management study 13 4.1 Value management workshop 13 4.2 Consideration of community values, priorities and issues 13 4.2.1 Indicators of community values 13 4.3 Value management workshop outcomes 15 4.4 Modified Orange description 15 5.0 Submissions management 17 5.1 Overview of submissions 17 5.2 Late submissions 17 5.3 Data management and processing of submissions 17 6.0 Submissions issues and responses 19 6.1 Functional issues 19 6.2 Environmental issues 41 6.3 Economic issues 55 6.4 Social issues 67 6.5 Process issues 81 7.0 Conclusion 95 7.1 Themes arising from submissions 95 7.2 Preferred option announcement 95 7.3 Further consultation 95 Gerringong to Bomaderry Princes Highway upgrade Submissions Report September 2008 / Maunsell Australia Pty Ltd Not used Gerringong to Bomaderry Princes Highway upgrade Submissions Report September 2008 / Maunsell Australia Pty Ltd Executive summary Economic issues Submissions reflect a high awareness and concern for maintaining the economic viability of the region through In March 2006, the NSW Government launched a study to investigate feasible options to upgrade the Princes business, agriculture and tourism. A large number of submissions have reinforced the need for any highway Highway over a distance of approximately 30 km between Gerringong and Bomaderry. upgrade to support tourism within the region. Some submissions viewed the highway upgrade as an opportunity to promote the region’s tourism initiatives and strategy. Appropriate access and interchanges for This Submissions Report contains the issues from the 996 submissions received in response to the project’s Gerringong and Berry are considered important to business sector performance. Many submissions have route options development report and public display of seven feasible options. The display and comment raised concerns over the potential impact to individual farm and agricultural sector viability. Fragmentation of period commenced on 26 November 2007 and closed on 29 February 2008. Community submissions, results agricultural land, access arrangements and property acquisition are seen as key considerations. Broadly, of technical investigations, and outcomes of a value management study all contribute to identifying the submissions view the area’s natural and rural environmental values as key economic assets which need to be preferred option which is expected to be released in late 2008. protected. This report documents the issues raised in the submissions and the responses to these issues which have been prepared by the project team. The report provides an overview of the project’s consultation program, a Social issues summary of findings from the value management workshop and the project’s status as at September 2008 for The majority of submissions clearly stated the importance of protecting the village character and heritage of context. It also outlines what are the next steps towards determining the preferred option. the region, the townships and the communities within the study area. This includes ensuring the community cohesion, networks and support which currently exists within these communities is not compromised by The RTA considers a meaningful and engaging community consultation program as an essential component of selection of a preferred option. Submissions have also raised serious concerns over property values affected the Gerringong to Bomaderry Princess Highway upgrade. The project’s consultation program aims to inform by the highway upgrade. Submissions reference personal stress, the importance of communicating clear and engage the whole community in a constructive, transparent and fair process. It encourages public project timeframes, a fair property acquisition process and effective impact mitigation. participation at each stage of the project including the preferred option selection and the environmental assessment and concept design planned to commence in 2009. Process issues Consultation activities undertaken for the options display included community information sessions, Submissions have included a range of comments regarding the project’s route options development process. workshops, forums, interviews and operation of the project office. These provided community members with Some submissions have debated the relative merits of including alternate routes, such as an option south of direct access to project team members and a range of opportunities to discuss the project in a supportive Berry. Many submissions reference the importance of a timely resolution of the preferred option selection and environment. Events aimed to share an understanding of the opportunities and considerations of each option. project delivery timeframes. In addition submissions have also reinforced the importance of transparency in Discussions explored all functional, environmental, social and economic constraints and considered individual the selection process and the high value of ongoing community and stakeholder consultation in each stage of properties, localised areas, townships and the greater region. the project. A small number of submissions extended discussion of process issues by questioning the appropriateness of comparing options at this stage of the project in the absence of detailed environmental In summary the following provides a synopsis of themes raised in the options display submissions: assessments of each option. Functional issues Public participation When discussing functional (design and engineering) issues, submissions have explored topics related to the appropriate provision of access on and off the highway, into and between properties and to towns, during both The opportunity to participate in the consultation process has been embraced by community members, the construction and operational phases of the highway upgrade. Submissions have also highlighted the need organisations, government agencies and other stakeholders, as represented by the large number of submissions for the preferred option to address road safety for vehicles, pedestrians and cyclists. A high number of received during the options display period. submissions have also suggested that the preferred option selection closely examine the potential to use the existing highway to minimise impacts to new areas and agricultural land, together with the possibility of The project team greatly appreciates the contribution community members have made through their retaining the existing highway as a ‘slow road’ for tourism and local access. Submissions also raised the need to involvement – expressing their views and exploring all issues and aspects of the process. Public participation avoid or minimise impacts on clusters of existing residential development and community cohesion. plays an important role in achieving the best outcome for the whole community. Environmental issues A high number of submissions have requested that the design responds to the area’s environmental values and assets in an appropriate and sensitive manner. Specifically the submissions have highlighted the need for the flora and fauna and biodiversity values of the region to be protected. Many specific environmental features have been referenced including the maintenance of wildlife corridors, wetlands, water bodies and Endangered Ecological Communities.