Renewables Transportation – Port to Renewable Energy Zones (REZ)

View the media release for more information

View the media release for more information.

View the media release (PDF, 96.09 KB) for more information.

View the media release (PDF, 54.52 KB) for more information

Intersection of Quayside Close and Selwyn Street, Mayfield North

No expected delays: shoulder closure | speed reduction 40km/h

Works include: 

• lengthening culverts, including piling works, under Quayside Close and south of Selwyn Street
• widening Quayside Close and Selwyn Street at the intersection
• installing signs, asphalt and new road line markings.

Oversize and/or overmass contact via UHF 56

View notification and map for more details.

Intersection of Selwyn Street, George Street, Industrial Drive, Mayfield North

Total expected delays: less than five minutes | shoulder closure | day work

Night work | 22/10/2025 | 6pm to 7am | Lane closure | Industrial Drive northbound at corner of George Street

Works include: 

• concrete barrier installation
• converting stormwater inlets, kerb inlets and constructing new concrete kerbs, modifying overhead wiring
• relocating a light pole and traffic control signals on the corner of George Street and Industrial Drive
• move low pressure gas main, and constructing a new communications pit, manhole and pillar
• tightening electricity conductors between poles and replacing poles and conductors.

Oversize and/or overmass contact via UHF 57

View notifications and map for more details. 

Find out more about Newcastle and surrounds project traffic impacts. 

No current work or projects. 

Intersection of Golden Highway and Lonsdale and Pringle Streets, Jerrys Plains

Total expected delays: up to ten minutes | Monday to Friday |7am to 6pm | lane closure | reduced speed limit 40km/h

Works include:

• relocating signs and hazard markers
• laying new asphalt north of Lonsdale Street, and east of Pringle Street
• constructing a retaining wall north-east Pringle Street
• tightening electricity conductors between poles and replacing poles and conductors.

Oversize and/or overmass contact via UHF 35

View notification/map or live traffic for more details.

Find out more about the Singleton Bypass project and the Golden Highway upgrades.

Intersection of Denman Road and Bengalla Road, Muswellbrook

Total expected delays: less than five minutes | shoulder closure 

Works include:

• vegetation pruning and removal
• building a hardstand along the eastbound verge of Denman Road
• linemarking, changing signs, installing fencing; tightening electricity conductors between poles and replacing poles and conductors
• resurfacing existing road pavement area and reinstating line marking.

Oversize and/or overmass contact via UHF 35.

View notification and map for more details

Intersection of Wybong Road and Golden Highway, Sandy Hollow

Total expected delays: Less than five minutes | shoulder closure

Works include: 

• laying asphalt at the corner of Wybong Road and Golden Highway intersection, and in the existing road pavement area
• relocating signs and adjusting guideposts
• tightening electricity conductors between poles and replacing poles and conductors.

View notification and map for more details.
 

Intersection of Denman Road and Jerrys Plains Road (Golden Highway), Denman

Total expected delays: less than five minutes | shoulder closure | speed reduction 40km/h

Works include:

• vegetation pruning and removal
• line marking, fencing, concrete barrier installation
• building a hardstand along the eastbound verge of Denman Road
• linemarking, changing signs, installing fencing; tightening electricity conductors between poles and replacing poles and conductors
• resurfacing existing road pavement area and reinstating line marking.

Oversize and/or overmass contact via UHF 35.

View notification and map or live traffic for more details.

Intersection of Golden Highway and Vinegaroy Road, Cassilis

Total expected delays: up to ten minutes | reduced speed limit 40km/h | lane closure | day and night

Works include:

• widening and embankment construction westbound lane on the Golden Highway
• resurfacing, line marking and installing guideposts on the Golden Highway and Vinegaroy Road
• building a right turn lane from the Golden Highway westbound onto Vinegaroy Road
• reshaping the verge and batter westbound side of the Golden Highway to the northwest of the intersection
• tightening electricity conductors between poles and replacing poles and conductors.

Oversize and/or overmass contact via UHF 30

View notification/map or live traffic for more details.

Intersection of Castlereagh Highway and Barneys Reef Road, Birriwa

14/10/2025 to April 2026 - Barneys Reef Road: temporary closure detour in place | Barneys Reef Road/Birriwa Bus Route South/Castlereagh Highway | up to five minutes 

Total expected delays this week: Castlereagh Highway: up to ten minutes | reduced speed limit 40km/h | northbound lane closure | day and night

Works include:

• widening Castlereagh Highway at Barneys Reef Road. A 600-metre section of the Highway will be closed with alternating traffic in place until the end of September 2025
• installing new vegetated open drains and steel rail safety barriers on the eastern and western side of Castlereagh Highway
• replacing existing culverts and building new headwalls under the highway. 

Oversize and/or overmass contact via UHF 30

View notification/map or live traffic for more details.

Intersection of Spring Ridge Road and Golden Highway, Cobbora

Total expected delays: up to ten minutes | Monday to Friday | 7am to 6pm | lane closures | reduced speed limit 40km/h 

Works include:

• laying new asphalt at the southeast corner of the intersection and the eastern verge of Spring Ridge Road
• laying new asphalt western verge of Spring Ridge Road, new line-marking, removing and relocating signage
• constructing a new vegetated open drain on the southeast corner of the intersection
• tightening electricity conductors between poles and replacing poles and conductors.

Oversize and/overmass contact via UHF 30

View notification and map or livetraffic.com for more details.
 

Intersection of Bolaro Street and Golden Highway, Dunedoo

Total expected delays: less than five minutes | shoulder closure 

Works include:

• hardstand build on the eastern side of the Golden Highway and Wargundy Street intersection
• kerb on the eastern road verge of the Golden Highway and Bolaro Street intersection, north and west corners of the Golden Highway and service road intersection  
• replacing guard rail on north-bound approach to rail level crossing, footpath on the eastern side of the Golden Highway
• relocating and installing signage, light pole, tightening electricity conductors between poles and replacing poles and conductors.

View notification and map for details.
 

No current work or impacts.

Intersection of Saxa Road and Golden Highway, Elong Elong

Total expected delays: up to ten minutes | speed reduction  40km/h | lane closure | day only 

Works include: 

• asphalt at the southeast corner of the intersection and the western verge of Saxa Road, new road line marking and adjusting guideposts
• extending the culvert on Saxa Road, and replacing a head wall, constructing a new vegetated open drain on the southeast corner of the intersection
• removing and relocating signage, tightening electricity conductors between poles and replacing poles and conductors.
• Oversize and/or overmass contact via UHF 30

View notification/map or live traffic for more details.
 

• Golden Highway, Cassilis near Wyoming Road – weekdays 7am to 6pm and 8am to pm on Saturday to 15 November. Vehicles over 3.5 metres will be required to contact UHF channel 40 for assistance through the work site. For more information visit live traffic.
• Cockfighter Bridge, Golden Highway, Warkworth - Monday to Thursday 7am to 4pm to 17 December 2025. Vehicles that are over 3 metres wide will be required to contact the works supervisor on 0411 264 279 to arrange travel through the work site. The project operates on UHF channel 32. For more information visit live traffic.
• Mudies Creek upgrade, Golden Highway at Mitchell Line of Road - weekdays 7am to 6pm to 18 December 2026. Operators of oversize and/or overmass vehicles with a ground contact wider than 3.2m are advised to contact the project team at least 5 business days prior to proposed travel date on 0450 161 807. For more information visit live traffic.
   

In October 2023 the NSW Government introduced its Climate Change (Net Zero Future) Act 2023 (Climate Change Act), to enshrine emissions reduction targets in law in New South Wales and establish an independent Net Zero Commission.

The Climate Change Act commits New South Wales to cutting greenhouse gas emissions by at least 50% by 2030 and reaching net zero by 2050.

NSW’s coal fired power stations currently provide around three quarters of the State’s electricity supply. Three of NSW’s four remaining coal-fired power stations are scheduled to close in the next ten years. 

The NSW Government is leading the transformation of the State’s electricity system with the NSW Electricity Infrastructure Roadmap (the Roadmap).

The Roadmap sets out a coordinated plan to achieving a capacity target of at least 12 gigawatts of renewable energy generation, and two gigawatts of long-duration storage by 2030.

As part of the Roadmap, the Energy Corporation of NSW (EnergyCo) is responsible for leading the design, delivery and coordination of NSW’s Renewable Energy Zones (REZ) and priority transmission infrastructure projects in a way that benefits consumers, investors and regional communities.

REZs will group new wind and solar power generation where it can be efficiently stored and transmitted across NSW. Construction of new REZ generation and transmission projects will require delivery of large and heavy equipment, including oversize over-mass (OSOM) components such as wind turbine towers, and blades, transformers and synchronous condensers.

These OSOM components will need to be transported from their point of import to project locations within REZs, via the existing State Road network. To ensure the State Road network can accommodate these OSOM vehicle movements, minor road works and corridor modifications are required in the initial route between the Port of Newcastle and the REZs.

Transport and EnergyCo are working together to deliver the Port to REZ (P2R) Program, which will ensure a coordinated approach to road upgrades, approvals, permits, traffic management and safety measures for the State classified road network. This coordinated approach will enable the safe and efficient transportation of OSOM movements, initially from the Port of Newcastle to REZs along state classified roads and enable critical investment in major renewable energy projects.

The Renewables Transportation oversize and/or overmass (OSOM) loads page has been developed to provide general information about categories of vehicles in NSW, access to the NSW road network and information about OSOM. It also has safety tips for motorists who come across OSOM loads while driving.

Construction of the transmission infrastructure and generation projects in REZs will require delivery of large and heavy components via the State Road network.

The P2R road upgrades will enable delivery of large components that are essential to construct and operate major critical REZ transmission and generation projects. These upgrades are also being designed to minimise disruption and improve safety for other road users during the movement of OSOM loads.

P2R upgrades will include improvements to intersections, installation of new passing bays and turning lanes, and other works required to enable the safe passage of OSOM components and mitigate impacts on other road users.

Transport and EnergyCo will work to coordinate, plan and manage the movement of OSOM loads to minimise disruption and maintain the efficiency and safety of the classified road network for all road users.

The NSW Government is funding upgrades to the State Road network at 19 locations to enable the movement of oversize and/or overmass (OSOM) loads from the Port of Newcastle to Renewable Energy Zones.

Detailed maps for each upgrade location are below.

• Port of Newcastle to Central-West Orana Renewable Energy Zone route and locations (PDF, 173.85 KB)
• 1 Upgrade to Quayside Close / Selwyn Street, Mayfield North (PDF, 4.46 MB)
• 2 Upgrade to Selwyn Street, George Street and Industrial Drive, Mayfield North (PDF, 7.92 MB)
• 3 Upgrade to Industrial Drive, Pacific Highway, Mayfield West (PDF, 7.03 MB)
• 4 Upgrade to John Renshaw Drive onto the Hunter Expressway eastbound exit ramp (PDF, 14.95 MB)
• 5 Upgrade to New England Highway, Mitchell Line of Road (Golden Highway) at Whittingham (PDF, 580.06 KB)
• 6 Upgrade to Golden Highway (Mitchell Line of Road) and Putty Road (PDF, 995.43 KB)
• 7 Upgrade to Jerrys Plains Road, Putty Road at Mount Thorley (PDF, 1.65 MB)
• 8  9 Upgrade to the Golden Highway at Lonsdale Street and Pringle Street, Jerrys Plains (PDF, 13.98 MB)
• 10 Upgrade to Jerrys Plains Road (Golden Highway) and Denman Road at Denman (PDF, 1.25 MB)
• 11 Upgrade to Denman Road, Bengalla Road at Muswellbrook (PDF, 16.47 MB)
• 12 Upgrade to Wybong Road, Golden Highway at Sandy Hollow (PDF, 4.27 MB)
• 13 Upgrade to Golden Highway, Vinegaroy Road at Cassilis (PDF, 1.27 MB)
• 14 upgrade to Golden Highway, Black Stump Way at Leadville (PDF, 1.25 MB)
• 15 upgrade to Golden Highway, Castlereagh Highway at Dunedoo (PDF, 2.28 MB)
• 16 upgrade to Golden Highway, Bolaro Street at Dunedoo (PDF, 11.54 MB)
• 17 Upgrade to Golden Highway, Spring Ridge Road at Cobbora (PDF, 1.3 MB)
• 18 Upgrade to Castlereagh Highway, Barneys Reef Road at Birriwa (PDF, 1.73 MB)
• 19 Upgrade to Golden Highway, Saxa Road at Elong Elong (PDF, 1.37 MB)

Explore the EnergyCo Port to REZ interactive map

Transport and EnergyCo assessed the route that will be used by OSOM vehicles travelling from the Port of Newcastle to the Central-West Orana REZ.

The assessment considered road traffic conditions, travel times, average speeds, driver fatigue management requirements, passing lane requirements, overnight rest places, stopping places for conducting load checks and completing travel diaries, and school times in rural towns.

The purpose of the assessment was to identify suitable locations for OSOM vehicles to pull over based on:

• where OSOM transportation is required to stop for fatigue management and overnight rest in accordance with the Heavy Vehicle (Fatigue Management) National Regulation (NSW)
• opportunities for pullover bays to let general traffic pass based on a 10-minute traffic delay nominated threshold, in accordance with Transport for NSW Technical Direction – Traffic Control.

Transport and EnergyCo identified eight locations for new pullover bays at specific areas based on a performance criteria of keeping general traffic delay resulting from OSOM transportation to under 10 minutes.

This 10-minute delay refers to the time a general road user may be delayed by a single OSOM vehicle when unable to pass it on the road. Existing facilities would be utilised for fatigue management and overnight rest.

The eight potential new pullover bay locations will compliment facilities that currently exist along the road network. Common routes used for OSOM transportation generally have existing facilities available for fatigue management and to provide opportunities for traffic to pass.

Existing facilities include formalised heavy vehicle rest stops, overtaking lanes, wide pavement areas at intersections and existing gravel bays.

View maps showing the location of the pullover bays:

• Map showing the 8 new pullover bay locations (PDF, 239.88 KB)
• Map showing the 8 new pullover bay locations in relation to the 19 upgrade locations along the route (PDF, 191.74 KB)
   

EnergyCo will deliver the road upgrade work for Transport under Works Authorisation Deeds. A Works Authorisation Deed is an agreement between Transport and a developer to carry out work as per the requirements of s138 of the Roads act and utilising the roles and function requirements conferred within s64 of the Roads Act 1993.

The environmental approvals for the work will be managed under a Minor Works Review of Environmental Factors (MWREF). 

A Minor Works Review of Environmental Factors (REF) is an essential assessment conducted to evaluate the environmental impact of smaller-scale construction or infrastructure projects. These reviews help ensure responsible development while minimising adverse effects on the environment. 

The REF process typically involves analysing the proposed works, identifying potential impacts, and implementing mitigation measures to address any negative consequences.

• Central West Orana Renewable Energy Zone – Port to Renewable Energy Zone Road Upgrade Program - Minor works review of environmental factors – Package 1 - July 2024 (PDF, 51.91 MB)
• Central West Orana Renewable Energy Zone – Port to Renewable Energy Zone Road Upgrade Program - Minor works review of environmental factors – Package 1 - Addendum 1 – February 2025 (PDF, 49.05 MB)
• Central West Orana Renewable Energy Zone – Port to Renewable Energy Zone Road Upgrade Program - Minor works review of environmental factors – Package 2 – April 2024 (PDF, 50.61 MB)
• Central West Orana Renewable Energy Zone – Port to Renewable Energy Zone Road Upgrade Program - Minor works review of environmental factors – Package 3 – March 2024 (PDF, 43.77 MB)
• Central West Orana Renewable Energy Zone – Port to Renewable Energy Zone Road Upgrade Program - Minor works review of environmental factors – Package 4 – September 2024 (PDF, 38.34 MB)
• Central West Orana Renewable Energy Zone – Port to Renewable Energy Zone Road Upgrade Program - Minor works review of environmental factors – Package 4 - Addendum 1 – February 2025 (PDF, 24.76 MB)
• Central West Orana Renewable Energy Zone - Port to REZ Road Upgrade Program - Minor works review of environmental factors - Package 5 – September 2024 (PDF, 47.77 MB)
• Central West Orana Renewable Energy Zone – Port to Renewable Energy Zone Road Upgrade Program - Minor works review of environmental factors – Pullover bays - February 2025 (PDF, 28.67 MB) 

EnergyCo conducted an evaluation of prequalified construction contractors and a request for tender was issued to selected tenderers in August 2024.

BMD Constructions Pty Ltd was announced as the successful construction contractor in April 2025. 

Construction started in June 2025.

More information is available on EnergyCo's website.

We will continue to engage relevant councils, key stakeholders and residents directly impacted by the road upgrades during construction. 

• 16 April 2025: Regions to benefit from upgrades of roads to renewable energy zones
• 18 October 2024: Golden Highway a critical path to net zero ambitions
• 18 July 2024: Media release More Muswellbrook roads to benefit from energy shift (PDF, 96.09 KB)
• 5 September 2023: ‘Port to REZ’ agreement paves the way for smooth energy transition (PDF, 54.52 KB).

Representatives from Transport, EnergyCo and BMD Constructions will attend a community pop-up at Mayfield Day at Dangar Park in Mayfield (Newcastle) on Saturday 18 October. We will update the community about the progress of the road upgrades. 

When: 10am – 3pm, Saturday 18 October 2025 

Where: Dangar Park, Mayfield (Newcastle)

Representatives from EnergyCo and Transport for NSW attended community pop-up sessions at the following locations in 2025. 

• Cessnock Show on 21 February 2025
• Jerrys Plains Community Fair on 22 February 2025
• Bengalla Upper Hunter Show on 15 March 2025
• Dunedoo Markets on 12 April 2025
• Dunedoo Markets on 10 May 2025
• Jerrys Plains School of Arts Hall on 3 July 2025
• AgQuip in Gunnedah on 19 and 20 August 2025
• Great Cattle Dog Muster in Muswellbrook on 6 September 2025
• Cassilis pop-up session on 12 September 2025
• Dunedoo Markets on 13 September
• Singleton Youth Venue Auditorium on 18 September 

We will continue to engage with the community and stakeholders throughout 2025.

You can contact the EnergyCo team via: 

• Phone: 1800 849 794 (business hours)
• Email: port2rez@energyco.nsw.gov.au
• Website: energyco.nsw.gov.au/port2rez

Representatives from EnergyCo and Transport for NSW attended community pop-up sessions at the following locations in 2024. 

• Dunedoo Markets on 9 November 2024.
• Jerrys Plains on 4 December 2024.
• Dunedoo Markets 14 December 2024.

The NSW Government is investing in upgrades to the State Road network to enable the movement of oversize and/or overmass (OSOM) loads from the Port of Newcastle to Renewable Energy Zones, called the Port to REZ program. 

REZ will group new wind and solar power generation into locations where it can be efficiently stored and transmitted across NSW. Five REZs have so far been declared – Central-West Orana (CWO), Hunter-Central Coast, New England, Illawarra and South West. 

The CWO and New England REZs were declared in late 2021. The South West and Hunter-Central Coast REZs were declared in late 2022, while the Illawarra REZ was declared in February 2023.

The REZ will keep NSW electricity reliable as coal-fired power stations retire, delivering large amounts of new energy to power regions and cities.

The Energy Corporation of NSW (EnergyCo) and Transport for NSW (Transport) are working together to scope and deliver the upgrades necessary for transporting the OSOM components along identified sections the State-road network.
Transport is leading a whole of government steering committee on transport and logistics for the REZs.

We are working to support local councils, third party asset managers and communities to manage impacts to the NSW road network.

Transport for NSW (Transport) and Energy Corporation of NSW (EnergyCo) are working together to scope and deliver the upgrades necessary for transporting OSOM components along identified corridors of the State Road network.

There will be upgrades at 19 locations on the 320-kilometre route between the Port of Newcastle and Elong Elong, and a section of the Castlereagh Highway towards Gulgong to facilitate this for the Central West Orana (CWO) REZ.

An evaluation of prequalified construction contractors has been conducted and a request for tender was issued to selected tenderers in August 2024. The successful construction contractor was announced in April 2025. BMD Constructions Pty Ltd has been awarded the contract to deliver these works, with construction of the upgrades underway in June 2025 for the CWO REZ.

Other corridors to other REZ areas are currently in the planning phase.

Construction of the upgrades is expected to take one year for the CWO REZ. EnergyCo proposes a single program of works for these State Road upgrades.

The works would be undertaken by EnergyCo with the support of Transport.

Transport continues to work on an operational strategy to minimise disruption for all road users.

Transport and EnergyCo established a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to facilitate the rollout of REZs with road improvements across the state. The MoU was finalised in September 2023.

The road upgrades will facilitate the transportation of renewables OSOM components including wind turbine blades, tower sections and transformers.

The initial road upgrades will prioritise the route from the Port of Newcastle to the Central-West Orana Renewable Energy Zone near Dubbo.

A portion of the route will also be used for transportation to the New England Renewable Energy Zone.

OSOM loads are defined as Class 1 vehicles under the Heavy Vehicle National Law. A vehicle or vehicle combination is considered to be OSOM if it exceeds any general access mass or dimension limits.

Typical examples include:

• components for renewable energy generation and storage
• agricultural machines such as harvesters and grain augers
• vehicle combinations carrying large indivisible items such as mining and construction vehicles, bridge components or building infrastructure
• special purpose vehicles such as mobile cranes, concrete pump trucks and drilling rigs.

OSOM loads that exceed certain criteria are classified as high risk. The criteria include length, height, rear overhang, forward projection, width and/or total combination weight. Information is available here.

High risk OSOM travel under a permit and are accompanied by escort/pilot vehicles and NSW Police. 

Site investigations for the initial stages of the Port to REZ program were completed in the first quarter of 2024 to inform the design and planning documentation for the road upgrades for the CWO REZ.

Other corridors are still in the planning phase.

Transport for NSW and EnergyCo have been engaging with key internal and external stakeholders, including Councils, communities, third party asset managers (e.g. Rail Infrastructure Managers) and emergency services along the CWO REZ Corridor.

There are some properties that will be impacted by the upgrades. The impacts involve driveway adjustments, tree trimming and tree removal. All property owners that will be impacted will be consulted directly.

In 2024, the Renewables Transportation team met with several local Councils and emergency services groups as part of its ongoing engagement with key stakeholders. Meetings were held with Singleton Local Emergency Management Committee (LEMC) Warrumbungle LEMC, Hunter and Central Coast, Far West and Central West Regional Emergency Management Committees. Singleton, Muswellbrook and Upper Hunter councils and a briefing was provided to Singleton and Muswellbrook councillors.

A briefing was provided to Warrumbungle Council in July 2024. The Port to REZ team briefed Singleton councillors on 25 June 2024 and subsequently conducted face-to-face engagement with property owners in Jerrys Plains in late July 2024.

The Renewables Transportation team gave a presentation to Cessnock Council in late August 2024 and presented to Dubbo Council on 11 November 2024. 

Letters were sent to property owners in September about the parking changes at Dunedoo. Transport and EnergyCo met with property owners in person on 12 September 2024 to discuss the impacts.

There was also face-to-face engagement with stakeholders on the Golden Highway at Jerrys Plains and Dunedoo on 12 September 2024 in relation to the location of pull-over bays. 

Transport and EnergyCo staff attended the Dunedoo Markets on 9 November and 14 December 2024 and held a community drop-in session in Jerrys Plains on 4 December 2024.

Transport and EnergyCo attended the Cessnock Show on 21 February and the Jerrys Plains Community Fair on 22 February 2025. The team attended the Bengalla Upper Hunter Show on 15 March and the Dunedoo Markets on 12 April and 10 May 2025 and attended a community session at Jerrys Plains on 3 July 2025.  

Transport and EnergyCo attended AgQuip in Gunnedah on 19 and 20 August 2025 and attended the Great Cattle Dog Muster in Muswellbrook on Saturday 6 September.

The Port to REZ route generally follows the state road network from the Port of Newcastle to the Central-West Orana REZ. This includes sections of the New England Highway, Golden Highway and Castlereagh Highway.

As part of the Port to REZ road upgrades, EnergyCo will build new ‘hardstand’ pavements within the road corridor in some areas along the route. This ‘hardstand’ is a paved area outside the normal road pavement (behind the kerb) and designed to be used by oversize and/or over-mass (OSOM) vehicles that cannot navigate the intersection within the normal road area.

Common heavy vehicles and trailers you see on the road are not suitable for transporting OSOM loads, which require the use of specialised trailers and equipment. Many of these trailers will be wider, longer and have more axles and tyres to distribute the weight of the load and reduce the impact to the road pavement and structures. 

Transport is also reviewing its maintenance program and schedule for the corridor to assess what measures need to change with the uplift in traffic volumes on the corridor.

Safety is our top priority, which is why we want to ensure all road users are safe during this process.

The transportation of a high volume of renewables OSOM components may introduce changes to travel conditions for motorists and other road users.

OSOM vehicles may be overlength, over mass, over height and/or over width and travel day and night. These vehicles need more space on the road. OSOM vehicles are distinguishable by oversize placards and warning lights. They also travel with pilot vehicles (with warning lights and placards) and in some cases, under NSW Police escort. The escort and pilot vehicles provide advanced warning and signals for motorists to safely pass an OSOM vehicle. The National Heavy Vehicle Regulator has a handy video to guide motorists on how to drive safely around OSOM loads. 

It is important motorists are sensible while these coordinated movements happen, provide OSOM loads with plenty of space and follow the directions of the NSW Police escort vehicles.

Some of the upgrades to the road network include new pavement/road widening in some places. Do not park your vehicles on these widened areas of pavement, or use them to cut the corner. These areas will be delineated accordingly.

Transport works with multiple stakeholders including the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR), NSW Police, local government, Rail Infrastructure Managers and the freight industry to plan the movement of oversize and/or overmass (OSOM) components around the road network. Transport is also liaising with the Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure and the proponents of wind farm developments, as key stakeholders. 

For the Central-West Orana (CWO) Renewable Energy Zone (REZ), it is anticipated there will be an increase in OSOM movements from the Port of Newcastle from early 2026 for a period of approximately three years. The number of daily OSOM movements will be influenced by the progress of development in CWO REZ. More information about the number of projected OSOM movements from the Port of Newcastle will become available in 2025 as developers confirm the timing of their construction activities in CWO REZ.

Estimates for other REZ areas are being confirmed, as further details become available regarding the timing and scale of wind farm projects that will occur in the other renewable energy zones. 

Transport is currently working with EnergyCo and other stakeholders to develop the operational strategy and framework for OSOM movements associated with the Renewal Energy Zones.

Whilst the 19 locations have been identified to facilitate the movements of the required OSOM, Transport is investigating how many OSOM movements can be supported by this corridor under the framework of proposed intersection upgrades, rest area improvements and new stopping bays. This is then overlaid with the existing function of the roads, communities and users impacted to determine a strategy that can support this work with the least feasible impact.

Information will be made available to the community and key stakeholders in 2025 as more details are confirmed. 

Transport and EnergyCo assessed the route that will be used by OSOM vehicles travelling from the Port of Newcastle to the Central-West Orana REZ.

The assessment considered road traffic conditions, travel times, average speeds, driver fatigue management requirements, passing lane requirements, overnight rest places, stopping places for conducting load checks and completing travel diaries, and school times in rural towns.

The eight potential new pullover bay locations will compliment facilities that currently exist along the road network.

EnergyCo and Transport will consult with stakeholders, including Councils, industry and the broader community about potential pull-over locations in 2025.

Transport has started investigations to identify and assess possible locations of a new overtaking lane on the Golden Highway near Merriwa, as part of the Golden Highway Improvements project funded under the Regional Roads Fund.

These investigations are being completed in parallel with the Golden Highway – Dubbo to Newcastle Improvement Program which is investigating priority solutions along the length of the Golden Highway, including potential additional overtaking lanes and other improvements to support renewable energy transition zones.

Transport will consult with the community and stakeholders once a preferred location has been identified.

Transport and EnergyCo are examining the transportation task associated with moving components from the Port of Newcastle to Renewable Energy Zones. We are considering the ongoing needs of the various road users including residents, local businesses, local communities, and heavy vehicle operators who regularly access the route. Transport is examining potential impacts of OSOM movements in relation to a variety of road users, including buses.

There are 40km/h speed zone restrictions during school hours (between 8:00am-9:30am and 2:30pm-4:00pm). Transport for NSW is currently developing an operational strategy for the Newcastle Port to REZ corridor to manage OSOM movements giving consideration to school zones, community needs and other drivers on the network. The 8:00am to 9:30am and 2:30pm to 4:00pm school zone times are for school zones on the State Road network.

Transport acknowledges that buses in regional areas can travel longer distances to service communities, which could mean there are interactions between OSOM and bus providers along the State network outside school hours. Transport and EnergyCo will work with councils and bus operators to minimise impacts in relation to school bus routes.

An example of ongoing consultation with proponents is the Goulburn River Solar Farm, there has been consultation between Transport and BP Lightsource (the development’s proponents). 

The consultation was part of the environmental assessment process, in relation to the use of Ringwood Road/Golden Highway as the primary access for the project. 

As a part of the consultation and approval of the project, Transport supported the use of the intersection as left-in and left-out for heavy and light vehicles, with an improved left turn lane for the inbound movements from the Golden Highway into Ringwood Road and a left turn acceleration lane for the outbound movements from Ringwood Road onto the Golden Highway.

This is to improve the level of safety for existing and proposed project traffic. 

Improvements to the existing right turn basic intersection treatment were also required to improve the level of safety due to the increase in the background traffic volumes that would be passing the intersection. 

As a part of the left-in, left-out use of the Ringwood Road/Golden Highway intersection treatment, all vehicles are then required to use the Barnett Street/Golden Highway intersection to turn around to head eastbound. The conditions for the project and the traffic management plan enforce the above requirements. 

In addition, there are specific traffic management measures within the Traffic Management Plan to mitigate risks associated with this project’s heavy vehicle and OSOM traffic, in relation to school bus routes and stops.

The approved treatments and traffic mitigation measures for the Goulburn River Solar Farm project are publicly available on the Major Projects Portal which can be accessed via the Goulburn River solar farm link

Transport will engage with bus operators to discuss any feedback they have regarding Port to REZ and OSOM movements.

The NSW Government and Australian Governments recently invested $128.5 million in the Port to Project corridor from the Port of Newcastle to the CWO REZ via the Golden Highway, as part of the 2024-25 NSW Budget. An additional $12 million is also committed for overtaking lanes along the highway, near Merriwa. OSOM movements utilise heavy vehicle pilots and police escorts and generally travel at a reduced speed through towns such as Merriwa.

Pedestrian access along Bettington Street is along two well defined and surfaced footpaths located some 3m from the travel lanes. Safe access is provided across Bettington Street via two well delineated and signposted pedestrian refuge crossings.

In July 2024, the Minister for Regional Transport and Roads announced the NSW Government would assume responsibility for sections of two local roads critical to the State’s future energy needs.

Bengalla Road and Wybong Road (western section from Bengalla Road to the Golden Highway) in Muswellbrook will be recategorised from local to State roads, in recognition of their significance to OSOM and freight movements and to help alleviate road maintenance demand for Muswellbrook Shire Council.

Both roads are important freight transport routes that have been tasked with handling OSOM vehicle movements for the mines in the Muswellbrook Local Government Area and for other industries.

Transport is expected to do asset maintenance work on a section of the reclassified road in 2026. Transport will keep the community informed as the project progresses.

Wybong Road Natural disaster/ Betterment work

Muswellbrook Council is leading a project on Wybong Road that will be delivered by Transport on Council’s behalf. Funding is from the State Government Natural disaster/ Betterment funding. Transport and Council will keep the community informed as the project progresses.