The Burrill Lake community is being invited to help shape the Princes Highway Corridor upgrade from the southern end of the Milton-Ulladulla Bypass through to the next stages of the upgrade as work powers ahead to deliver safer, more reliable trips on the South Coast.
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development Michael McCormack said a bypass of Milton-Ulladulla is key to transforming journeys along the New South Wales South Coast.
“We know how important the Milton-Ulladulla Bypass is to the South Coast in alleviating congestion, particularly during holiday periods, but also in driving productivity and access to the region’s booming economy,” the Deputy Prime Minister said.
“Since 2019, the Federal Government has committed $900 million towards upgrading the Princes Highway Corridor in New South Wales, which includes $400 million to make the Milton‑Ulladulla bypass a reality.”
NSW Minister for Regional Transport and Roads Paul Toole said community input was pivotal to shaping a Princes Highway upgrade that would meet the needs of locals now and into the future.
“We’re confident that the preferred route for the Milton-Ulladulla Bypass – the corridor reserved in 2013 – still provides the best outcome for locals and those travelling through the area, taking more than twice the amount of traffic from the existing highway in the future compared to other options,” Mr Toole said.
“We know about 8 in 10 journeys stop or stay in the area which means the option that provides the most opportunities for connectivity back into town would deliver the best outcomes for congestion, safety, and liveability.
“It also works for the communities and businesses along the route, which have planned for this corridor for almost a decade, and ensures local connections into Milton and Ulladulla are maintained while we work with the community on the best design for the southern connection at Burrill Lake.
“We also recognise there are a range of views about how the proposed bypass should connect in to communities like Burrill Lake and Dolphin Point which is why we’re establishing a Co-Design Committee to allow community members to get down into the technical and engineering detail with the experts and help us identify the best outcome for that part of this game-changing project.”
Senator for NSW Perin Davey said the Burrill Lake Co-Design Committee will bring together the community to go through the traffic data, the environmental analysis and the geological constraints and identify the best option for the southern end of the bypass.
“The independent committee will include community groups, local residents, business owners and other government agencies, who will work with us to identify and recommend a preferred connection option,” Senator Davey said.
“They will be shown all the data that Transport NSW has and is using to make its decisions, which can often make it clearer how complex the various factors are and help reconcile differing views in the community.”
State Member for South Coast Shelley Hancock said the work of the Burrill Lake Co-Design Committee will coincide with work being done under the Batemans Bay to Burrill Lake upgrade, which will complement the benefits this bypass will bring.
“We want to tap into the people who know this area best to ensure we get the highway upgrade this community deserves, with a focus on Burrill Lake and the southern connection of the Milton-Ulladulla Bypass,” Mrs Hancock said.
“We want to assure residents that the co-design process will not delay delivery and our timeframe for the bypass remains unchanged – but we want to make sure we take the time to get this right, as you only get one chance to build major infrastructure like this.
“A lot of people have different views on the project, but it’s important we come together to secure the best option to address the problems we have right now which include excessive congestion and safety issues in, and around, Milton and Ulladulla.”
For more information about how to be involved in the Burrill Lake Community Co-design Committee, visit nswroads.work/bl2bb. To view a consultation summary report assessing the community’s feedback on the Milton Ulladulla bypass, visit nswroads.work/mub.
