State of Play - Gurmesh Singh

STATE OF PLAY

with

COFFS HARBOUR MP GURMESH SINGH

The NSW Government is proudly delivering major projects across the Coffs Coast, transformative and timely projects which will bring significant economic and social benefits for many years to come.

The Coffs Harbour Bypass is taking a major step forward with the detailed design close to being finalised as the Ferrovial Gamuda Joint Venture continues geotechnical work ahead of major construction in early 2023. Over the next six months, teams will be drilling more than 300 boreholes and excavating dozens of test pits within the project alignment to verify ground conditions, with these works helping us better understand the terrain for when major construction ramps up. The boreholes will vary in depth between four and 70 metres. Each site will take between two and seven days to drill and reinstate depending on weather and access. This work is one of the main steps in informing the final design ahead of major construction early next year. The Ferrovial Gamuda Joint Venture was awarded the $1.35 billion major works contract in June. The Australian and NSW governments are jointly funding the $2.2 billion Coffs Harbour Bypass, a game-changing project for the daily lives of local residents and commuters travelling through our city. The 14-kilometre Bypass will include three tunnels at major ridgelines, three key interchanges, access roads and a new bus interchange at Kororo Public School. This is the biggest infrastructure project in the city’s history and it will be a key piece of infrastructure connecting the East Coast, resulting in wider economic benefits for the Coffs Harbour area by making the CBD a more attractive place to visit, shop and work. I encourage people to visit the Pacific Highway Upgrade website for further details. Our local community will also be the beneficiary from the completion of a major milestone in a $13 million project to transform maritime facilities at Coffs Harbour. The installation of a new travel lift will deliver a range of benefits for commercial and private vessels as well as members of our community. The installation of the travel lift enables 75-tonne vessels such as commercial fishing boats, cruisers and catamarans, to be lifted out of the water and maintained in an environmentally controlled area which will minimise the risk of contaminants entering the waterway. The $13 million Coffs Harbour Marine Precinct Project will deliver improved safety and accessibility for all boating enthusiasts and commercial vessels while reducing environmental impacts. The NSW Government’s commitment to invest in updating maritime infrastructure makes access to waterways easier and safer for all vessels and watercraft users. Facilities such as these encourage tourism which in turn delivers an economic stimulus to local communities. The travel lift was put through final testing and commissioning and was in operation in October. A new Maritime Operation Centre and the installation of an unleaded vessel refuelling facility for public and government agency use are also part of this program of works. Construction of a new boat maintenance facility, which now includes the travel lift, and the expansion of the government agency marina have already been delivered as part of the NSW Government’s $205 million Maritime Infrastructure Stimulus Program to improve and modernise maritime facilities.