|  In
October 2000, the NSW Roads and Traffic Authority (RTA) began planning
a dual carriageway upgrade of the Pacific Highway from Moorland
to Herons Creek.
Initial investigations and community consultation identified
a number of feasible highway upgrade options. A concept design,
which integrated environmental, social and engineering aspects,
was prepared for each option. These options were displayed for
public comment in May 2001. As part of the determination of the preferred route, community
input was an important part of the evaluation of the feasible
options. In July 2001, a value management workshop was held involving
state government, local government and community representatives. The workshop assessed the performance
of each of the route options against a wide range of agreed criteria.
The preferred route, comprising a western bypass of Johns River,
an inner eastern bypass of Kew and duplication of the existing
alignment on the remaining sections, was announced in March 2002.
The preferred route was placed on display for community comment
in March/April 2002.
Alternative interchange and access options for Kew were displayed for
community comment in December 2003.
An environmental assessment and preliminary engineering design
for the preferred route has been undertaken. This assessment considered
environmental, social, land use, economic, engineering and traffic
impacts. An Environmental Impact Statement has been prepared
and describes the concept design and the environmental impacts
of the preferred route.
The environmental impact statement and other relevant documentation was then exhibited
from Wednesday 22 June to Friday 5 August 2005.
Representations (submissions) were invited from the community.
A Submissions Report was prepared documenting the representations recieved and the RTA responses
to the issues raised. This report was submitted to the Department of Planning
on 1 August 2006 seeking approval for the project under Part 3A
of the Environmental Planning and Assesment (EP&A) Act 1979. The Submissions Report is available for viewing
from the Submissions Report page.
On January 11 2007, the Acting Prime Minister and the NSW Roads Minister, announced planning approval was
granted on the Moorland to Herons Creek upgrade.
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