Community involvement
The Woolgoolga to Wells Crossing upgrade included community and stakeholder involvement to ascertain the values, issues
and concerns of the community, throughout the development process.
Objectives
The key objectives of community involvement are to:
- Create stakeholder and community awareness of the study and the need for the upgrade.
- Understand stakeholder and community issues, values and concerns related to the project.
- Create stakeholder and community awareness of the route options, preferred route and concept design.
- Incorporate stakeholder and community issues into each phase of investigation, from the development of route options to the
refinement of a preferred route and concept design.
- Assist stakeholders and the community to understand the results of the study and the next steps.
The following activities provided opportunities for the community to be informed and involved in the study:
- A project information line has been established so that members of the community can speak with a member of the project team
during business hours. If the phone is unattended, please leave a message. Phone 1800 154 724 (free call).
- A community liaison group was formed to assist with the investigations. This group met regularly with the
study team up to the preferred route announcement.
- Community updates will be released at various stages of the project to provide information about project developments.
- Advertising in the local area will also keep the community informed throughout the project.
Community updates
Information has been provided to the community at key milestones during the development of the project.
Community update 1 – November 2004 (90KB; pdf)
Community update 2 – Route options display, October 2005 (4.57MB; pdf)
Community update 3 – Preferred route display, August 2006 (512KB; pdf)
Flyer – Project update, May 2007 (94KB; pdf)
Community update 4 - Concept design, April 2008 (4.68MB; pdf)
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Advertisements
Advertisements are placed in local and regional newspapers at various times during the study. They inform the community about the project and opportunities for community involvement. Copies of the advertisements are here.
Advertisement 1 – Community information session, November 2004 (61KB; pdf)
Advertisement 2 – Progress update no.1, April 2005 (16KB; pdf)
Community notice – Route options display, October 2005 (31KB; pdf)
Advertisement 3 – Route options display extended, November 2005 (8KB; pdf)
Advertisement 4 – Outcome of value management workshop, December 2005 (8KB; pdf)
Community notice – Outcome of value management workshop, December 2005 (60KB; pdf)
Advertisement 5 – Preferred route display, August 2006 (42KB; pdf)
Advertisement 6 – Community meeting, February 2007 (22KB; pdf)
Advertisement 7 – Concept design display, April 2008 (40.1KB; pdf)
Community information session
A community information session was held on 29 November 2004
at the Yarrawarra Large Conference Centre, Corindi Beach. The evening
was attended by approximately 30 community members and was designed
to:
- Provide the community with an appreciation of the project
and study process.
- Provide the community with an understanding of the scope of
the studies to be undertaken.
- Listen to community concerns and suggestions.
- Start to define the issues that need to be considered by the
study team.
Community information session minutes – 29 November 2004 (274KB; pdf)
A second community information session was held on Wednesday 28 February 2007 at the Yarrawarra Large Conference Centre.
The evening was attended by more than 30 residents, and was designed to discuss the next phases of concept design and environmental assessment of the project, as well as general project information.
Community information session minutes – 28 February 2007 (71KB; pdf)
Community liaison group
A community liaison group was formed to provide input into the investigations. This group met regularly to discuss route constraints and opportunities. This group was one of many ways in which the community contributed in the route development and assessment process.
Members of the group represented sectors of the community. Members communicated project information discussed at group meetings with those they represented.
The first liaison group meeting was held in December 2004. Minutes from all meetings are posted here. No further liaison group meetings will take place.
Community liaison group charter (19KB; pdf)
Community liaison group members (7KB; pdf)
Community liaison group minutes – Meeting 1 – 15 December 2004 (100KB; pdf)
Community liaison group minutes – Meeting 2 – 2 March 2005 (104KB; pdf)
Community liaison group minutes – Meeting 3 – 20 July 2005 (120KB; pdf)
Community liaison group minutes – Meeting 4 – 2 November 2005 (99KB; pdf)
Community liaison group minutes – Meeting 5 – 11 May 2006 (61KB; pdf)
Community liaison group minutes – Meeting 6 – 5 September 2006 (71KB; pdf)
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Ecological focus group
An ecological focus group was established to advise the study team on current and emerging ecological issues.
The focus group met three times during the planning stage to help identify, communicate, represent and consider the ecological interests of the local community and other stakeholders potentially affected by the project.
Members of the focus group represented a variety of ecological and environmental organisations and agencies. Members communicated project information discussed at meetings with those they represented.
The first meeting was held in September 2005. Minutes from meetings are posted here. No further meetings will take place.
Ecological focus group charter (68KB; pdf)
Ecological focus group minutes – Meeting 1 – 21 September 2005 (224KB; pdf)
Ecological focus group minutes – Meeting 2 – 2 November 2005 (166KB; pdf)
Ecological focus group minutes – Meeting 3 – 13 September 2006 (63KB; pdf)
Aboriginal focus group
Aboriginal focus group meeting
An Aboriginal focus group meeting was held on Wednesday 7 February 2007, at the Yarrawarra Large Conference Centre, Yarrawarra.
The evening was designed to discuss:
- The proposed preferred route.
- The fieldwork methodology.
- Schedule for future field work.
- Schedule for future consultation.
Aboriginal focus group minutes – Meeting 1 – 8 February 2007 (50KB; pdf)
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Study documents
Route options development report
The route options were on public display from 21 October 2005 until 2 December 2005. Four route options were shortlisted for community consideration. The options were developed in response to a range of geotechnical, engineering, environmental and community issues.
Detailed information on the route options and their associated issues is contained in the route options development report, which can be downloaded here:
For dial-up modem users who are unable to download the route options development report, please click on this link to request a CD copy in the post. Please include your name and postal address with your request.
Value management workshop report
A value management workshop was held on 5-6 December 2005, which involved government agencies, local councils, community representatives, environmental groups, the GHD project team and the RTA. The purpose of this workshop was to assess which routes would provide the best balance across environmental, social, land use, traffic and engineering issues, while achieving the highest overall benefits.
The workshop report can be downloaded here:
Value management workshop report, March 2006 (712KB; pdf)
Route options submissions report
The route options submission period closed on Friday 2 December 2005. 150 submissions were received from the community and other stakeholders in relation to the route options. The issues raised are documented in the route options submissions report, which can be downloaded here:
For dial-up modem users who are unable to download the route options submissions report, please click on this link to request a CD copy in the post. Please include your name and postal address with your request.
Preferred route report
The preferred route was on public display until Friday 13 October 2006. The preferred route was developed in response to a range of geotechnical, engineering, environmental and community issues.
Detailed information on the preferred route and the associated issues is contained in the preferred route report, which can be downloaded here:
Preferred Route Report Barcoongere Way and Luthers Road areas
The preferred routes in the Barcoongere Way and Luthers Road areas were been identified following further environmental, agricultural and property investigations. The Preferred Route Report Barcoongere Way and Luthers Road areas regarding the further investigations and conclusions can be downloaded here:
Interactive map (233KB; pdf)
Working papers
The Woolgoolga to Wells Crossing working papers provide an overview of the investigations carried out, and a preliminary assessment of potential impacts of the preferred route. They are working documents i.e. additional information will be gathered for the environmental assessment. The working papers are available by contacting the project team (see contact us page) or click on this link to request a CD copy in the post. Please include your name and postal address with your request. The following is a list of working papers that are available upon request:
Social Effects.
Indigenous Heritage Impact Assessment.
Non-indigenous Heritage Impact Assessment.
Planning and Zoning.
Aquatic Ecology.
Terrestrial Ecology.
Traffic Assessment.
Land Use.
Urban Design Landscape and Visual Assessment.
Noise Impact.
Hydrology and Hydraulics.
Water Quality.
Geotechnical.
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Concept design report
The concept design is on display for community comment until Friday, 23 May 2008.
Detailed information on the concept design is contained in the concept design report which can be downloaded here:
Cover & Contents (602KB; pdf)
Executive summary (128KB; pdf)
1. Introduction (9.39MB; pdf)
2. Highway corridor (9.15MB; pdf)
3. Arterial and motorway standard access strategies (180KB; pdf)
4. Road design (178KB; pdf)
5. Community consultation (167KB; pdf)
6. Existing traffic and road infrastructure (10.2MB; pdf)
7. Traffic, cyclists, pedestrians and buses (268KB; pdf)
8. Lighting (127KB; pdf)
9. Structures (147KB; pdf)
10. Drainage (214KB; pdf)
11. Pavements (150KB; pdf)
12. Earthworks (138KB; pdf)
13. Urban design (134KB; pdf)
14. Public utilities (134KB; pdf)
15. Signage, linemarking and barriers (124KB; pdf)
16. Terrestrial ecology (172KB; pdf)
17. Aquatic ecology (133KB; pdf)
18. Noise (133KB; pdf)
19. Indigenous heritage (7.59MB; pdf)
20. Non-indigenous heritage (11.5MB; pdf)
21. Water Quality (187KB; pdf)
22. Property boundary adjustments (166KB; pdf)
23. Constructability and staging (141KB; pdf)
24. Construction resources (154KB; pdf)
25. Temporary infrastructure (198KB; pdf)
26. Road user delay management (126KB; pdf)
27. Stage 2 road safety audit (116KB; pdf)
28. Occupational health and safety (133KB; pdf)
29. Actions arising from value engineering workshop (132KB; pdf)
30. Outstanding issues (139KB; pdf)
Appendix A - Design checklist (191KB; pdf)
Appendix B - Range Road overpass - options considered and construction staging (1.05MB; pdf)
Appendix C - Minutes of community meeting (327KB; pdf)
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