Community Update APRIL 2013 Additional crossing of the Clarence River at Grafton – Preferred option display Letter from Bob Higgins The Minister for Roads and Ports has announced Option C as the preferred option for an additional crossing of the Clarence River at Grafton. This update shows the preferred route option, outlines the reasons why it was selected and describes the next steps for the project. Those property owners potentially directly affected by Option C are being contacted directly. If you have any questions or concerns please get in touch with the project team, contact details are on the back page. The next steps for the project are to refine the concept design for Option C and to prepare and display an environmental assessment for community comment. The project team for these next steps will be led by Adam Cameron as the Project Manager and supported by Steve Arnold (General Manager Project Development) and John Alexander (Regional Manager, Northern). Chris Clark and I would like to thank all members of the community who have become involved in this important project for Grafton and the Clarence Valley for their contribution towards this route selection process. – Robert (Bob) Higgins, Project Director Process to identify the preferred option Roads and Maritime Services (RMS) has worked with the community to identify a preferred location for an additional crossing of the Clarence River at Grafton. In January 2012, six short-listed route options were announced for further investigation. In September 2012, the Route Options Development Report was displayed for public comment. The report described the preliminary concept design and the investigations undertaken for each of the six options. A recommended preferred option was identified following consideration of the technical investigations, community comment and the outcomes of a value management workshop with participants from key stakeholders, the community, government agencies and the project team. The assessment of the six short-listed options found that: • Options 14 and 15 provided the least improvements to the efficiency of the road network, were amongst the poorest performing options when assessed against the assessment criteria, were the two most expensive options and provided the least value for money. • Option 11 was a poorer performing option than Options E and C and has substantial amenity impacts in a quiet residential area. • Option A was a poorer performing option than Options E and C, has greater impacts on businesses than the other options, was higher in cost than Option E and provided poorer value for money than both Options E and C. A comparative assessment of Options E and C found that: • On balance, Option C presents greater overall value to the community, in particular addressing long term connectivity, providing for economic growth and supporting Grafton as a regional centre. • Option C provides better transport efficiency improvements over the whole of the road network for both the short term and long term, including for road freight movements. • Option C provides better outcomes in the socio economic area, including its ability to better support Grafton as a regional centre. • Option C provides better outcomes in terms of non-Aboriginal heritage by avoiding impacts on the precinct around Victoria and Villiers streets. In December 2012, Option C was identified as the recommended preferred route option and community feedback was invited to 4 March 2013. The Recommended Preferred Option Report (December 2012) is available on the project website. A total of 67 submissions were received during the consultation period providing a variety of comments about the recommended preferred option and some suggested improvements. A report on the submissions received is included in the Preferred Option and Submissions Report (April 2013) which is available on the project website, www.rms.nsw.gov.au/graftonbridge
Transcript
Community UpdateAPRil 2013
Additional crossing of the Clarence River at Grafton – Preferred option display
Letter from Bob Higgins
The Minister for Roads and Ports has announced Option C as the preferred option for an additional crossing of the Clarence River at Grafton.
This update shows the preferred route option, outlines the reasons why it was selected and describes the next steps for the project.
Those property owners potentially directly affected by Option C are being contacted directly. If you have any questions or concerns please get in touch with the project team, contact details are on the back page.
The next steps for the project are to refine the concept design for Option C and to prepare and display an environmental assessment for community comment.
The project team for these next steps will be led by Adam Cameron as the Project Manager and supported by Steve Arnold (General Manager Project Development) and John Alexander (Regional Manager, Northern).
Chris Clark and I would like to thank all members of the community who have become involved in this important project for Grafton and the Clarence Valley for their contribution towards this route selection process.
– Robert (Bob) Higgins, Project Director
Process to identify the preferred option
Roads and Maritime Services (RMS) has worked with the community to identify a preferred location for an additional crossing of the Clarence River at Grafton.
In January 2012, six short-listed route options were announced for further investigation.
In September 2012, the Route Options Development Report was displayed for public comment. The report described the preliminary concept design and the investigations undertaken for each of the six options.
A recommended preferred option was identified following consideration of the technical investigations, community comment and the outcomes of a value management workshop with participants from key stakeholders, the community, government agencies and the project team.
The assessment of the six short-listed options found that:
• Options 14 and 15 provided the least improvements to the efficiency of the road network, were amongst the poorest performing options when assessed against the assessment criteria, were the two most expensive options and provided the least value for money.
• Option 11 was a poorer performing option than Options E and C and has substantial amenity impacts in a quiet residential area.
• Option A was a poorer performing option than Options E and C, has greater impacts on businesses than the other options, was higher in cost than Option E and provided poorer value for money than both Options E and C.
A comparative assessment of Options E and C found that:
• On balance, Option C presents greater overall value to the community, in particular addressing long term connectivity, providing for economic growth and supporting Grafton as a regional centre.
• Option C provides better transport efficiency improvements over the whole of the road network for both the short term and long term, including for road freight movements.
• Option C provides better outcomes in the socio economic area, including its ability to better support Grafton as a regional centre.
• Option C provides better outcomes in terms of non-Aboriginal heritage by avoiding impacts on the precinct around Victoria and Villiers streets.
In December 2012, Option C was identified as the recommended preferred route option and community feedback was invited to 4 March 2013. The Recommended Preferred Option Report (December 2012) is available on the project website.
A total of 67 submissions were received during the consultation period providing a variety of comments about the recommended preferred option and some suggested improvements.
A report on the submissions received is included in the Preferred Option and Submissions Report (April 2013) which is available on the project website, www.rms.nsw.gov.au/graftonbridge
OPTiON C - ThE PREFERRED OPTiON
SKINNER STREET
BENT STREET
RAILWAY
SP
RIN
G S
TRE
ET
IOLANTHE STREET
VILLIERSSTREET
DUKE STREET
CLARENCE STREET
KENT STREET
SP
RIN
G S
TRE
ET
THR
OU
GH
STR
EE
T
FITZ
RO
Y ST
REE
T
BA
CO
N S
TREE
T
RAIL
WAY
POU
ND
STR
EET
OLI
VER
STR
EET
GW
YD
IR H
WY
GW
YDIR
HW
Y
PACI
FIC
HWY
RYA
NST
REE
T
PA
CIF
IC H
WY
GR
EA
VE
S S
TR
EE
T
Viaduct
Existing bridge to remain one lane in each direction
Upgrade Gwydir Highway to four lanes between Pacifi c Highway and Bent Street
Proposed bridge – one lane in each direction
Viaduct
Upgraderoundabout
Upgraderoundabout
Navigational channels – 35m wide and 9.1m high
Villiers Street to be lowered to provide 5.3m high vehicle clearance beneath railway
Greaves Street to be lowered to retain existing clearance (4m)beneath viaduct
Pound Street to be lowered to provide 5.3m high vehicle clearance beneath railway
Upgrade Pound Street to four lanes (with turning lanes) between Clarence and Prince streets
Upgrade Villiers Street to four lanes SHOPPING
WORLD
Left in/left out only
New carpark access
Left in/left out only
Existing clearance under viaduct (4m) to be retained
New roundabout
New roundabout
New roundabout
Upgrade parking
New traffi c lights
Replace existing roundabout with traffi c lights
Diversion of existing Pacifi c Highway
WHARF STREET
Proposedembankment
CL
AR
EN
CE RIVER
CLARENZA
SOUTHGRAFTON
GRAFTON
GREATMARLOW
E
C
11
15
14
15
1514A
KEY Proposed upgrades for
2049 traffi c
Indicative road boundary
Proposed embankment
SCALE0 100m
NEW STREET
Upgrade roundabout
Left in/left out only
INSET 1
Dobie Street / Villiers Street intersection
THR
OU
GH
STR
EE
T
VILLIERS STREET DOBIE
STR
EET
Upgrade roundabout
Private accessto rail corridor
Upgradeparking
September 2010
OPTiON C - ThE PREFERRED OPTiON
SKINNER STREET
BENT STREET
RAILWAY
SP
RIN
G S
TRE
ET
IOLANTHE STREET
VILLIERSSTREET
DUKE STREET
CLARENCE STREET
KENT STREET
SP
RIN
G S
TRE
ET
THR
OU
GH
STR
EE
T
FITZ
RO
Y ST
REE
T
BA
CO
N S
TREE
T
RAIL
WAY
POU
ND
STR
EET
OLI
VER
STR
EET
GW
YD
IR H
WY
GW
YDIR
HW
Y
PACI
FIC
HWY
RYA
NST
REE
T
PA
CIF
IC H
WY
GR
EA
VE
S S
TR
EE
TViaduct
Existing bridge to remain one lane in each direction
Upgrade Gwydir Highway to four lanes between Pacifi c Highway and Bent Street
Proposed bridge – one lane in each direction
Viaduct
Upgraderoundabout
Upgraderoundabout
Navigational channels – 35m wide and 9.1m high
Villiers Street to be lowered to provide 5.3m high vehicle clearance beneath railway
Greaves Street to be lowered to retain existing clearance (4m)beneath viaduct
Pound Street to be lowered to provide 5.3m high vehicle clearance beneath railway
Upgrade Pound Street to four lanes (with turning lanes) between Clarence and Prince streets
Upgrade Villiers Street to four lanes SHOPPING
WORLD
Left in/left out only
New carpark access
Left in/left out only
Existing clearance under viaduct (4m) to be retained
New roundabout
New roundabout
New roundabout
Upgrade parking
New traffi c lights
Replace existing roundabout with traffi c lights
Diversion of existing Pacifi c Highway
WHARF STREET
Proposedembankment
CL
AR
EN
CE RIVER
CLARENZA
SOUTHGRAFTON
GRAFTON
GREATMARLOW
E
C
11
15
14
15
1514A
KEY Proposed upgrades for
2049 traffi c
Indicative road boundary
Proposed embankment
SCALE0 100m
NEW STREET
Upgrade roundabout
Left in/left out only
INSET 1
Dobie Street / Villiers Street intersection
THR
OU
GH
STR
EE
T
VILLIERS STREET DOBIE
STR
EET
Upgrade roundabout
Private accessto rail corridor
Upgradeparking
Refinements to the recommended preferred option
Refinements to the recommended preferred option have been identified from comments received during the consultation period and further investigations by the project team. These refinements have included:
• Refinements to the design for Pound Street to improve the level of on-street parking and access for delivery vehicles to local businesses.
• Provision for access to the sugar loading facility at South Grafton from Through Street.
• Further refinements to indicative road boundaries to address future maintenance requirements.
Further refinements will be made through the concept design and environmental assessment phase (see Next steps, back page).
Opportunities for staging of the preferred option
The adjacent plan shows the upgrade required to cater for predicted traffic volumes through to about 2049.
Only some of the upgrade (e.g. intersection upgrades and road widening) shown would be required when the additional crossing is initially opened to traffic. Further work could be undertaken when required to cater for increases in traffic volumes.
Staging opportunities will be further investigated during concept design and preparation of the environmental assessment for the preferred option.
The Preferred Option and Submissions Report (April 2013) is available on the project website or contact the project team.
The report includes community feedback received following the display of the recommended preferred option, details of the preferred option (including refinements to the recommended preferred option) and the next steps in the development of the project.
MAR 2011 Further community forums on route suggestions
OCT 2011
Develop preliminary route option report including environmental and other constraints for
community comment
Consideration and decision by RMS and the Minister for Roads on the preferred route option
Display Route Options Development
Report
Consider public
submissions
Value Management
Workshop
Consider submissions from display of recommended preferred route option
DEC 2010
Announce revised approach to engage more effectively with the community in identifying a
preferred route and community surveys
JUN 2011 Review feasibility of community suggestions
Evaluation workshops including the community to assist in identifying a short-list of route options
NOV 2011
Announce short-list of route optionsJAN 2012
Announce preferred route optionAPR 2013
DEC 2012
Identify and announce recommended preferred option for community comment
WE ARE
hERE
Next steps
The next steps will involve refining the concept design for the preferred option as well as a detailed environmental assessment of the proposal. The environmental assessment will assess the potential impact of the proposal on a wide range of issues and will identify, where required, possible mitigation measures to manage these potential impacts. Issues assessed will include:
• Traffic management, access and safety.
• Social, economic, property and land use.
• Urban design, visual impact and landscape character.
• Noise and vibration.
• Flooding and drainage.
• Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal heritage.
• Ecology.
The environmental assessment and concept design will be displayed for community comment. Issues raised in the submissions will be considered and, if appropriate, the proposal will be further refined to manage potential impacts.
For more information
Visit: www.rms.nsw.gov.au/graftonbridge
The project website is regularly updated and contains copies of the reports undertaken on the project to date, community consultation, interactive maps and traffic modelling videos.
Static displays are on display at key locations. Please visit the project website for details or visit the shop front at the Pacific Highway office, 21 Prince Street, Grafton.
Roads and Maritime Services (“RMS”) is subject to the Privacy and Personal Information Protection Act 1998 (or PPIP Act) which requires that we comply with the Information Protection Principles set out in the PPIP Act.
All information in correspondence is collected for the sole purpose of assisting in the assessment of this proposal. The information received, including names and addresses of respondents, may be published in subsequent documents unless a clear indication is given in the correspondence that all or part of that information is not to be published. Otherwise RMS will only disclose your personal information, without your consent, if authorised by the law. Your personal information will be held by RMS at the Pacific Highway office, Grafton NSW 2460. You have the right to access and correct the information if you believe that it is incorrect.
