Community involvement
The Oxley Highway to Kempsey upgrade includes community and stakeholder involvement to ascertain the values, issues and concerns of the community, throughout the development process.
Also, view the Environmental Assessment page for:
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 and the preferred route.
- Incorporate stakeholder and community issues into each phase of investigation, from the development of route options to the refinement of a preferred option and concept design.
- Assist stakeholders and the community to understand the results of the study and to understand the next steps.
The following activities provide 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 in the development of the project.
Community update 1 November 2004 (72KB; pdf)
Community update 2 Route options display October 2005 (1.1MB; pdf)
Community update 3 Preferred route display August 2006 (513KB; pdf)
Flyer Project update May 2007 (323KB; pdf)
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Advertisements
Advertisements were placed in local and regional newspapers at various times during the study. They will inform the community about the project and opportunities for community involvement. Copies of the advertisements will be posted here.
Advertisement 1 – Community Information Session, November 2004 (62KB; pdf)
Advertisement 2 – Progress Update No.1,
April 2005 (17KB; pdf)
Community notice – Route Options Display, October 2005 (36KB; 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 (41KB; pdf)
Advertisement 6 – Community Information Session, November 2006 (433KB; pdf)
Advertisement 7 – Community Meeting, February 2007 (22KB; pdf)
Advertisement 8 – Highway Access Strategy Report, October 2007 (37.5KB; pdf)
Advertisement 9 – Application for Project Approval, March 2008 (39KB; pdf)
Community Information Session
A community information session was held on 30 November 2004 at the Telegraph Point School of Arts, Telegraph Point. The evening
was attended by approximately 65 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 30 November 2004 (788KB; pdf)
A series of community information sessions will be held during the next phases of concept design and environmental assessment for the Oxley Highway to Kempsey project. The meetings are designed to present additional information on the following sections of the project:
- Oxley Highway to Hastings River;
- Kundabung; and
- Telegraph Point.
The first community meeting for Oxley Highway to Hastings River section was held on Tuesday 28 November 2006 at the Telegraph Point School of Arts, Telegraph Point, and was attended by more than 30 residents.
The second community meeting for the Kundabung section of the highway was held on Thursday 1 March 2007, and was attended by more than 60 residents.
Community information session minutes 1 March 2007 (64KB; pdf)
Community Liaison Group
A community liaison group (CLG) 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 CLG represent sectors of the community. These members have been communicating project information discussed at CLG meetings with those they represent.
The first CLG meeting was held in December 2004. Minutes from all CLG meetings will be posted here.
Community liaison group charter (19KB; pdf)
Community liaison group members (9KB; pdf)
Community liaison group minutes Meeting 1 16 December 2004 (90KB; pdf)
Community liaison group minutes – Meeting 2 – 3 March 2005 (97KB; pdf)
Community liaison group minutes – Meeting 3 – 21 July 2005 (88KB; pdf)
Community liaison group minutes – Meeting 4 – 31 October 2005 (107KB; pdf)
Community liaison group minutes – Meeting 5 – 10 May 2006 (75KB; pdf)
Community liaison group minutes – Meeting 6 – 6 September 2006 (81KB; pdf)
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Ecological Focus Group
An ecological focus group (EFG) was established to advise the study team on current and emerging ecological issues.
The EFG 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 EFG represented a variety of ecological and environmental organisations and agencies. Members have been communicating project information discussed at meetings with those they represent.
The first EFG meeting was held in September 2005. Minutes from all EFG meetings will be posted here.
Ecological focus group charter (68KB; pdf)
Ecological focus group members (7KB; pdf)
Ecological focus group minutes Meeting 1 22 September 2005 (204KB; pdf)
Ecological focus group minutes Meeting 2 31 October 2005 (107KB; pdf)
Ecological focus group minutes Meeting 3 15 September 2006 (62KB; pdf)
Aboriginal Focus Group
Aboriginal Focus Group Meeting
An Aboriginal focus group meeting was held on Thursday 8 February 2007, at the Telegraph Point School of Arts, Telegraph Point.
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 (45KB; 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 12-13 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 (509KB; pdf)
Route options submissions report
The route options submission period closed on Friday 2 December 2005. 199 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, 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 has been 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 Bill Hill Road Area
The preferred route in the Bill Hill Road area has now been identified following further studies and consideration of feedback in community submissions. The Preferred Route Report Bill Hill Road Area regarding the further investigations and conclusions can be downloaded here:
Working Papers
The Oxley Highway to Kempsey 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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Highway Access Strategy Report
As part of the design development for the project, a highway access strategy has been developed for an arterial and motorway upgrade. This is a key step in the development of the concept design.
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