The Proposed Port Macquarie Orbital Road

A plain English version of the Port Macquarie-Hastings Council Area Wide Traffic Study has been developed and is available to view online in the document library.

The Proposed Orbital Road Community Engagement Report Version 4.0 was included as an attachment at the Ordinary Council Meeting on 19 June 2019 - Item 13.01 and adopted as per the resolution for Item 13.01 of the agenda.

Minor amendments were made following feedback Council received from the community after its publication as part of the Council report. Version 5.0 has been authored by Port Macquarie-Hastings Council and available to view online in the document library.

At the Ordinary Council meeting on 19^th June, Council considered a report on the Proposed Orbital Road Project. Councillors noted the need to address the issue of traffic congestionin Port Macquarie and noted the significant engagement from the community to date. They thanked the all who contributed for taking the time to engage with Council in these early stages of this project.

As part of the 14 point resolution on the matter, Council resolved to proceed with the development of a Strategic Business Case. This does not mean Council has decided to proceed with the design or construction of the proposed Orbital Road. The decision to complete a Strategic Business Case simply means further investigation and analysis will occur to help provide a better understanding of the costs and benefits associated with various options to address our traffic problem. As part of the Strategic Business Case, Council will review and assess all route options (both those presented by Council during the recent community engagement and those suggested by the community during this time). Further, it was decided that consideration will be given as to how these compare with or add to possible improvements to the existing road network, such as planned upgrades to Lake Road, Ocean Drive, or other Council managed roads… and the Oxley Highway as a State Government managed road. To learn more on the Strategic Business Case, please view our fact sheet.

Council noted the strategic importance of a flood-free Primary Airport Access Road and decided that planning for this link (included as part of the Orbital engagement to date), would be progressed as a separate project in consultation with the Transport for NSW and the community, from this point forward.

Council also asked the General Manager to develop a communications and engagement plan for the period of the Strategic Business Case stage, as a way of keeping the community informed and engaged on this project in a transparent and timely manner. It also requested an Orbital Community Consultative Committee be established via an expression of interest process.

Please view Proposed Orbital Road Report, Report Minutes, Engagement Report and Engagement Report Appendices for more information.

Council has asked the General Manager to table a report at the September 2019 Council meeting, detailing the progress on these resolutions. The Council report will be able to be viewed online from noon on Friday 13 September 2019.

At the June Ordinary Council meeting, Council will consider a report on the proposed Orbital Road. The meeting will be held at 5.30pm on Wednesday 19^th June at the Council Chambers, 17 Burrawan St, Port Macquarie. Specifically, Council will consider the feedback received from our community during the recent engagement period, a summary of the road network planning and action undertaken to-date to respond to and cater for our growing community, and recommendations around the proposed next steps.

The Council report on this matter (and all agenda items) can be downloaded from Council’s website from around noon on Friday 14^th June.  Alternatively, hard copies will be available for viewing at Council’s Port Macquarie office or Port Macquarie Library. For community members wishing to attend the Council meeting, please note that seating in the Council chambers is limited and we recommend arriving early to secure a seat.

This week the Mayor’s Message informs that the submission period has closed. The feedback and submissions will now be collated and analysed. A report will be presented to the Council in June 2019.

The initial consultation period for the Orbital Road project has now concluded. All submissions, surveys and feedback received to date will now be collated and analysed for inclusion in an engagement report which will be presented to Council in June, for a decision to determine the next stage of the project.

This week the Mayor’s Message encourages everyone to share their thoughts on the project before submissions close by Saturday 30 March 2019.

Council is continuing to engage with the community and will be having 4 more pop-up stands on:

• Wednesday 13 March, 11am – 2pm in Port Central (outside Prouds)
• Thursday 14 March, 3.30pm – 5pm in Settlement City (opposite Mr Minute)
• Sunday 17 March at Laurieton Riverwalk Market
• Tuesday 19 March, 3.30pm – 6pm at Lake Cathie ShoppingCentre (outside Woolworths)

We encourage you to complete the survey or lodge a submission directly through the surveys available under the SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS tab. Hard copies of the survey and submission form will also be available at our pop-up stands.

Submissions will be received until 30 March 2019.

This week the Deputy Mayor’s Message provides an update on the proposed Orbital Road and encourages everyone to come along to our drop-in sessions and to complete the survey until 30 March 2019.

In response to feedback we have received this week through stakeholder meetings and engagement we have added additional information including:

- Proposed Orbital Road Presentation
- Proposed Orbital Road Information Posters
- Proposed Orbital Road Information Posters - zoomed maps
- Area Wide Traffic Study - 4 volumes

The documents are now available in the Document Library to the right (or below if on a mobile device).