Environment Minister gives Coffs Harbour bypass approval

EIS artists impression of the bypass at Shephards Lane tunnel.

Federal Environment Minister Sussan Ley has assessed and approved the Coffs Harbour Bypass under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act.

This announcement brings the project a step closer to construction. Both the NSW Minister for Planning and Public Spaces and the Federal Environment Minister have given the project the green light.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development Michael McCormack said the 14 kilometre bypass, which received official planning approval, is one of the 15 major projects that the Federal Government committed to fast-tracking in June this year.

“This approval includes the proposed tunnels at Roberts Hill, Shephards Lane and Gatelys Road, as well as assessing the project for its social, environmental, heritage and economic impacts, and gives the project team the green light to go ahead with major work.”

Construction of the bypass is expected to support 12,000 jobs over the life of the project. Two thousand of these are expected to be local jobs for people in the Coffs Harbour community.

State Member for Coffs Harbour Gurmesh Singh said getting the official tick to move forward was exciting news for the community, which will see things happening immediately, with noise treatments and utility relocations ready to go straight away.

“So many locals have told me they just want to see the bypass built and this next step ushers in a new phase, bringing a vital boost to the local economy while construction is underway,” Singh said.

The bypass is expected to take about five years to build.