Foxground and Berry bypass

Project approval

• Has the Foxground and Berry bypass project been approved?

  Yes. The NSW Minister for Planning and Infrastructure has considered the environmental assessment and submissions report for the Foxground and Berry bypass and granted environmental approval for the project. The project has been issued with a set of Minister's Conditions of Approval which will guide the detailed design, construction and operation of the project.

• What are the conditions of approval?

  The Minister's Conditions of Approval are a set of requirements from the Minister of Planning and Infrastructure that Transport for NSW and any of its contractors must comply with during detailed design, construction and operation. The Minister's Conditions of Approval are available to view or download on the project documents page.

• What is the environmental assessment?

  The environmental assessment responds to the requirements issued by the Director-General of the NSW Department of Planning and Infrastructure. It reviews the potential environmental, economic and social benefits of the project. It also details the impacts associated with the project and identifies management measures to minimise these impacts.

   

  The environmental assessment also considers a detailed description of the construction work required for the project and describes how the highway would function once it is built.

  The environmental assessment documentation is available to view or download on the project documents page.

Submissions report

• Where have the issues I raised in my submission during the environmental assessment process, been addressed?

  The NSW Department of Planning and Infrastructure received over 250 submissions on the Foxground and Berry bypass in response to the exhibition of the environmental assessment. Issues raised in these submissions have been addressed by Transport for NSW and responses are provided in a submissions report (PDF, 7MB) which has been published.

   

  For every submission received, where contact details have been provided, Transport for NSW has sent a letter detailing each individual's unique stakeholder identification number. The stakeholder ID numbers enable Transport for NSW to protect privacy yet still allow each individual to track responses to the issues raised in their submission within the submission report.

• I asked for my submission to be anonymous, how do I find where my issues are being addressed?

  Submissions received by Transport for NSW have been allocated with a unique Stakeholder ID number. All Stakeholder ID numbers are referenced in Appendix A of the submissions report, against the sections where responses to issues have been provided. A letter was sent to all stakeholders, who provided their contact details, outlining their unique Stakeholder ID number. Transport for NSW was unable to provide individuals who asked DP&I to withhold their contact details with their Stakeholder ID number. Individuals will need to contact DP&I to request the individual reference (Form No) DP&I allocated to their submission. This reference can be used by Transport for NSW to provide the Stakeholder ID number.

• What is the cost of the new junction at Schofields Lane?

  his issue has been addressed as part of the refined concept design. Transport for NSW expects to know the estimated costs at the detailed design phase of the project.

• A Bebo arch bridge structure is possibly better at Kangaroo Valley Road interchange, why this hasn't been incorporated?

  Transport for NSW took a considered approach to this submission and has provided a response on page 31 of the submissions report.

• What about the issue of pedestrian safety at the roundabouts on either side of the Kangaroo Valley Road Bridge?

  Transport for NSW has provided a response to this submission on page 82 of the submissions report.

Construction timing

• Does Transport for NSW have a start date for construction?

  Prior to construction beginning several important milestones must be met. These include: creating a detailed design, acquiring property, preparing contract documents and undertaking utility adjustments and geotechnical investigations.
   

  Tenders for detailed design and construction of the project have now closed. It is anticipated that the contract will be awarded in the first half of 2014, with construction commencement expected in 2014/15 and project completion in 2018.

Funding

• Does Transport for NSW have the necessary funding to complete construction?

  The NSW Government has committed $500 million in its first term to build the Gerringong upgrade (currently under construction) and to commence the Foxground and Berry bypass. Additional funding to complete the project has been identified by the NSW Government with the successful lease of Port Kembla and Port Botany.

View the August 2013 frequently asked questions and June 2012 frequently asked questions.

Transport for NSW held three working groups (7 March, 28 March and 2 May) to review various community and design issues for the Berry bridge and northern interchange. This working group lead to a short list of four bridge design options which were all considered in the environmental assessment.

Following these working groups, design changes have been made including:

• Bridge design improvements with commitment from Transport for NSW to develop a 'reference design' for the environmental assessment. A 'reference design' is where the design is developed beyond concept design with specified design improvements locked in now eg bridge joint types, number of bridge joints, column numbers and thickness.
• Lowering the number of bridge joints and commitment to using finger joints by Transport for NSW, so as to reduce the potential for noise impacts.
• Removal of roundabout from Tannery Road near to the Pulman Street precinct to Woodhill Mountain Road to avoid heritage impacts.

All actions and items raised during the working group sessions were carried forward by Transport for NSW into the environmental assessment.

Supporting documents

To view project documentation from the Berry bridge and northern interchange working group please refer to project documents page.

Transport for NSW held five working groups (8 March, 29 March, 17 April, 16 May and 25 July) to discuss the design of the Kangaroo Valley Road interchange and plans for Victoria Street. The aim of this working group was to assist with the mitigation of three key issues:

• Pedestrian / cyclist connectivity from east to west.
• Impacts on Mark Radium Park and consideration of future use.
• Impact of through traffic on Victoria Street residents and pedestrians.

The following design changes have been made in response to feedback received through the working groups:

• Working with the community on an interchange design to reduce the impact on homes on Huntingdale Park and Kangaroo Valley roads.
• The Huntingdale Park Estate entrance to remain at its current location. A roundabout (required under the development consent for the estate) could be constructed earlier.
• Provision of two-way shared pedestrian and cycleway features on the Kangaroo Valley Road interchange bridge providing improved connections to Mark Radium Park, Victoria, Queen and North streets.
• Victoria Street to be cul-de-sac'd at Mark Radium Park for the purpose of the environmental assessment. This design may change following ongoing community through the environmental assessment submissions process.

All actions and items raised during the working group sessions were carried forward by Transport for NSW into the environmental assessment.

Supporting documents

• Victoria Street fact sheet
• KVR Interchange design

To view further project documentation from the Kangaroo Valley Road interchange and Victoria Street precinct working group please refer to the project documents page.

Transport for NSW held three meetings (29 February, 2 April and 14 May) to review urban design and community issues for the North Berry precinct, particularly with regard to noise wall design, the residual land between North Street and the bypass as well as proposed pedestrian and cycle ways to connect recreational areas and other parts of town.

Following the working group meetings, design changes have been made including:

• Development of three potential designs for noise mitigation.
• Improvements to the area between North Street and the Berry bypass to minimise the impact of the noise protection structures on Berry and maximise the potential for good quality urban design.
• Incorporating shared cycle and pedestrian facilities between Kangaroo Valley Road and North Street on the southern side of the highway to maintain links between residential, commercial and recreational areas.

All actions and items raised during the working group sessions were carried forward by Transport for NSW into the environmental assessment.

Supporting documents

To view project documentation from the North Street precinct working group please refer to the project documents page.

Transport for NSW held two working group meetings (5 March and 16 April) to review various community and design issues for the Austral Park Road interchange and the proposed south bound heavy vehicle rest area.

Changes have been made to the concept design for the Austral Park Road interchange. They include:

• Removal of the heavy vehicle rest area at Austral Park Road from the proposed Foxground and Berry bypass concept design (see below).
• Altering the end point of Austral Park Road to allow for better integration with existing property access points.
• Inclusion of a below ground wildlife crossing.

Heavy vehicle rest area at Austral Park Road no longer proposed

Heavy vehicle rest areas are needed around 100 kilometres apart so that drivers have safe places to rest and check their loads. This strategy is outlined in Major Heavy Vehicle Rest Areas on Key Rural Freight Routes in NSW (January 2010).

Transport for NSW investigated an upgrade of the existing Nungarry heavy vehicle rest area in Minnamurra, 25 kilometres north of Austral Park Road as an alternative site to a heavy vehicle rest area proposed at Austral Park Road as part of the Foxground and Berry bypass project. This was in response to issues raised by affected property owners and a community working group.

We believe upgrading the Nungarry site as an alternative to building new facilities at Austral Park Road is feasible.

Transport for NSW will now contact adjacent property owners, prepare a design of an upgraded Nungarry site and undertake an environment impact assessment.

If these investigations at Nungarry mean that it ultimately cannot be delivered, Transport for NSW will identify an alternative site but will not revert back to the Austral Park Road proposal.

Actions and items raised during the working group sessions were carried forward by Transport for NSW into the environmental assessment.

Supporting documents

To view project documentation from the Austral Park Road interchange and heavy vehicle rest area working group please refer to the project documents page.

The community review group met from August to December 2011 to examine improvements to the preferred route where it passes close to Berry. As a result of the community review group's discussions, several amendments were made to the concept design for the Berry bypass, including moving the Berry bypass and Berry bridge further north, realigning the Huntingdale Park off-ramp to avoid Huntingdale Park Road, and lowering the Berry bridge by up to 6.4 metres.

Please see below for the changes made to each section of the concept design.

August to December 2011: North Berry precinct outcomes

• Along North Street, the bypass has been moved 26 metres further north, providing a 40 metre buffer between the northern edge of North Street (between Albany and Edward streets) and the revised alignment.
• Diverting Town Creek, increasing flood immunity and allowing the roadway to be lowered.
• Lowering the bypass between Alexandra and George streets by two metres. This responds to the community's desire to reduce the visual impact of the bypass.
• The height of the noise mitigation has been reduced from five metres to four metres.

August to December 2011: Improvements for Huntingdale Park Road residents

• The re-alignment of the northbound off-ramp to pass under the Kangaroo Valley Road bridge and avoid Huntingdale Park Road.
• Retention of the Huntingdale Park Road junction with Kangaroo Valley Road at its current location.
• Minimise impact to properties.

August to December 2011: Berry bridge

• Moving the bridge in Berry around 95 metres further away from Berry as it crosses Woodhill Mountain Road.
• Decreasing the bridge height by 6.4 metres lower than the previous design.
• Devising a design that aims to maintain larger numbers of existing Poplar trees. Alternatives to removing trees such as trimming to reduce or avoid tree removal would be investigated.

Supporting documents

To view project documentation from the Berry community review group please refer to the project documents page.